Following Monday night’s 26-13 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, New Orleans Saints fans are left questioning why one of their most explosive offensive weapons, wide receiver Chris Olave, wasn’t more involved in the game plan. Olave, now in his third NFL season, has been a solid contributor with 275 receiving yards and a touchdown on 22 catches thus far in 2024. However, his limited role in the Saints’ primetime matchup has left many, including his own family, frustrated.
On Monday Night Football, Olave finished with just two catches for a mere 10 yards. Even more surprising was his lack of involvement in the first half, where he saw only one target—a four-yard completion on the opening drive. For a player expected to be a focal point in the Saints’ offense, his absence from the game plan raised eyebrows, especially as the team struggled to find any rhythm offensively.
One of the most vocal critics of Olave’s limited usage was his brother, Josh Olave, who took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his frustration. “1 target?” he posted, echoing the sentiments of Saints fans who were baffled by Olave’s lack of involvement, particularly during a game where the Saints offense desperately needed a spark.
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Despite Olave’s minimal contributions, he still finished with the fifth most receiving yards on the team, highlighting how much the Saints’ offense struggled as a whole. Quarterback Derek Carr completed only 18 of 28 passes for 165 yards, with two touchdowns and an interception on the game’s opening drive. Carr’s night was further complicated when he left the game due to injury, forcing backup quarterback Jake Haener into action.
The Saints’ ground game wasn’t much better. Star running back Alvin Kamara, usually a key component in their offensive attack, was held to just 26 yards on 11 carries. The team’s inability to establish a balanced offense left them playing from behind for most of the night.
For Olave, the lack of targets is a stark contrast to the start of his career, where he caught for over 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons in the league. This season, however, the wide receiver is averaging only 55 yards per game, putting him on pace to fall short of that mark.
His diminished role in recent weeks has raised concerns about his usage in a Saints offense that seems out of sync.
As the Saints now sit at 2-3, head coach Dennis Allen and the offensive staff will need to figure out how to better utilize Olave, especially as they prepare for their next matchup against division rivals, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
With Olave’s playmaking ability, the Saints will need to get him more involved if they hope to turn their season around.
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