Chris Olave has been the New Orleans Saints’ clearest offensive constant through the first five weeks of the 2026 season, but an illness has now kept the wide receiver out of practice for a second consecutive day as the team prepares for its Week 6 trip to face the New York Giants.
Olave sat out Thursday’s session after also missing Wednesday’s work entirely, according to the team’s injury report.
While single-day absences for illness are relatively common across the NFL, consecutive missed practices raise more questions about availability for Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium.
The Saints have not yet issued a game-status designation, leaving Friday’s practice report as the clearest indicator of whether Olave will be ready to play.
The 2022 first-round pick has appeared in every game this year and produced steadily as the team’s top receiver. He opened the season with 10 catches for 182 yards in Week 1, followed by an eight-reception, 86-yard outing that included a touchdown in Week 2.
Olave then posted nine catches for 107 yards in Week 3 and eight receptions for 116 yards in Week 4, drawing double-digit targets in each of those contests.
He was quieter in the Week 5 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, catching four of six targets for 46 yards, but the overall body of work has left him among the league’s leading receivers entering Week 6.
Should Olave be unable to go against the Giants, the Saints would likely elevate Devaughn Vele into the primary wide-receiver role, with rookie Bryce Lance stepping into a larger complementary share of the snaps.
Offensive coordinator and head coach Kellen Moore could also lean more heavily on two-tight-end packages featuring Juwan Johnson and Noah Fant, shifting some of the intermediate and short-area targets that have often gone Olave’s way.
The rest of Thursday’s injury report offered a mixed picture.
Linebacker Kaden Elliss remained out with a calf issue that has already cost him recent playing time, while running back Alvin Kamara was limited for a second straight day because of a back problem.
Quarterback Tyler Shough continued to practice fully despite a left-hand injury. Rookie defensive back Lorenzo Styles Jr. appeared on the report for the first time, listed as limited with a knee issue after not being included on Wednesday.
Illnesses can resolve quickly, and Olave has shown durability this season despite earlier limited practice time related to other minor concerns.
Still, two full missed sessions place his status under closer scrutiny than it has been at any point through the first five weeks.
The Saints will practice again Friday before finalizing their travel plans for New York, and that session should provide the most useful update yet on whether their leading receiver will be available.
