NEW ORLEANS -- Saints wide receiver Chris Olave developed a blood clot in one of his lungs and will miss the team's season finale against the Atlanta Falcons, a source confirmed to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Olave, who was listed on the injury report with an illness after missing Wednesday's practice, has no history with blood clots and is expected to recover within the next month. He will be able to participate in the Saints' offseason program when it begins in April, the source said.
Olave posted a photo of himself in the hospital on Instagram on Thursday, writing: Thank you God for everything! Right where I need to be, life is full of unexpected twists & turns & I'm grateful to experience it. Chin up, chest out & keep it pushin. I don't want ya sympathy just talk to God for me. Bounce back otw!"
"Chris had an illness come up ... obviously he's navigating that with our medical staff," coach Kellen Moore said Thursday. "Our medical staff is awesome and for them to kind of get ahead of this, I thought it was a credit to those guys. He's in great care."
Olave, 25, will finish his fourth season with the Saints with a career-best 1,163 receiving yards and nine touchdowns. The 2022 first-round pick will head into his fifth-year option if he and the Saints do not reach a contract extension before the 2026 season begins.
"The game of football is a game of football, but there's game of life is a lot more important. So, No. 1, his health is what's most important. And then you think about that his health's going to be fine and he's in great care is the next thing is for him," offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier said Thursday. "What a season, what a great job he's done, accomplishments he's had. And we'd like to see him finish the season, but that wasn't in our card. So, our thoughts and prayers were with him."
Olave, who has been dealing with a recurring back injury this season, was able to play in a win against the Tennessee Titans in Week 17 after receiving treatment on Friday and Saturday.
He said last week that his goal was to play all 17 games after missing the second half of the 2024 season after sustaining two documented concussions.
"I think it's going to be my first time in my NFL career playing 17," Olave said Sunday. "It means a lot, man. One of my goals, one of my main goals for this year is trying to play all 17. Playing through injuries, playing through all that. So I'm super grateful, like I said. Got to give all glory to God to be in this position. We just got to finish next week."
Olave said he contemplated retirement at one point last season after seeking opinions from concussion specialists.
"It was a tough time last year," Olave said after the Saints' win against the New York Jets on Dec. 21. "I was only 24 years old, contemplating retirement, especially with the head injuries, but I prayed about it. My fam, my close fam was around me. They stuck by my side, and I just gave it another try, another chance. And it's been a great year."
New Orleans Football first reported the news.