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By Matthew Davis
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The New Orleans Saints are really rolling the dice with star wide receiver Chris Olave's new contract extension.
Despite his injury history, Olave is receiving $90 million guaranteed with his contract extension, which is worth up to $132 million over the next four years. While Olave has played 55 career games in four years, his injuries are more frequent than it appears at first glance. He has played 15-16 games in three of four seasons during his career.
Olave sustained a concussion in the third quarter of an October 2022 game as a rookie, and he missed the following game. In November 2023, Olave endured another concussion, but he returned for the following game that year.
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Olave eventually missed a late game that season after he sustained an ankle sprain in December 2023. Injuries mounted the following season for Olave when he sustained two concussions in 2024, and the Saints shut him down for the season for the final eight games after the second one.
He then sustained an ankle sprain in August 2025 at training camp before the preseason opener, which was inconsequential for the regular season. That said, Olave's late-season chest bruise in January was all the more concerning, and he missed the Week 18 game because of the blood clot discovered.
Overall, Olave has missed 13 games in four seasons due to injury, and it's hard to say that there won't be more. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis and the front office clearly didn't let that faze them from extending the former No. 11 overall pick from Ohio State.
After all, Olave made second-team All-Pro last season, and he had 291 receptions for 3,728 yards and 19 touchdowns. He did that with the following quarterback carousel of his young career, too: Andy Dalton, Jameis Winston, Derek Carr, Spencer Rattler and Tyler Shough.
If Shough develops the way the Saints front office hopes and he unlocks Olave's potential, it's a big win for New Orleans. However, that also hinges on Olave being healthy on the field for full seasons.
The Saints are willing to take that massive risk.
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