Saints wide receiver Chris Olave was discharged from Carolinas Medical Center and allowed to return to New Orleans on Sunday night with his teammates after taking a hard hit on a pass over the middle in a 23-22 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
Olave sustained a concussion in the first quarter following a scary hit from Panthers safety Xavier Woods, resulting in him being placed on a backboard and taken to the hospital for observations. The Saints confirmed that Olave had use of all of his extremities.
The hit occurred as Olave was coming across the middle on a pass route and was sandwiched by Woods and cornerback Dane Jackson. Woods, who was penalized for unnecessary roughness, appeared to lead with his shoulder but collided with Olave's head as he was attempting to catch the ball on the run.
Following the incident, former Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas criticized Saints quarterback Derek Carr on social media, questioning his decision-making during the play. Carr responded by expressing his concern for Olave's well-being and addressing the criticism from Thomas.
Woods, who was not ejected for the hit, stated that he did not believe it was a malicious hit and intended to reach out to Olave to clarify his intentions. He emphasized that such incidents are part of the physical nature of football and can happen unintentionally during gameplay.
Woods had previously been fined for a late hit on another player in a separate game, but maintained that his hit on Olave was not intentional. He expressed his commitment to playing the game of football with integrity and sportsmanship.
The NFL has a strict policy on player safety and penalizes hits that target the head or neck area of an opponent. The league aims to protect players from unnecessary risks and ensure a safe environment for all participants.
Despite the incident, both teams showed solidarity as players from both sides gathered around Olave while he received medical attention on the field. The NFL continues to emphasize the importance of player safety and proper conduct on the field to uphold the integrity of the game.
