CHICAGO (AP) — While New Orleans struggled offensively on Sunday, Chris Olave had one of his best games of the season.
It was an interesting moment for the fourth-year receiver and his slumping team.
Olave had five receptions for 98 yards and two touchdowns in the Saints game. 26-14 defeat in Chicago. He scored a total of two TDs in his previous 14 games.
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Olave, 25, has a team-high 44 receptions for 440 yards while playing in New Orleans’ first seven games this season. The Saints have just one win and the NFL trade deadline is approaching on Nov. 4, but the team is also talking to Olave and his staff about a possible contract extension.
“We have been having conversations since the beginning of the year,” Olave said. “Like I said at the beginning of the year, I feel like I have to prove that I’m that type of player. I feel like I’m getting into my rhythm, last game and this one, so I feel like everything is going to get better.”
Olave was selected by New Orleans with the 11th pick in the 2022 draft out of Ohio State. He had a great performance in his second year in the league, finishing with 87 receptions for 1,123 yards and five touchdowns.
but he missed nine games last season due to two concussions, finishing with a career-low 32 receptions for 400 yards.
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He had at least six catches in the Saints’ first three games this year, but said he felt like he turned a corner when he had six catches for 98 yards in last weekend’s game. 25-19 defeat to New England. He almost had a better performance against the Patriots, but had a couple of expensive drops.
“I’m getting back into my rhythm. I’m feeling more comfortable out there,” he said. “I’m just trying to keep playing.”
New Orleans was struggling to get anything going in Chicago before Olave caught a 57-yard pass from Spencer Rattler late in the first half. After Rattler threw an incomplete pass, Olave passed through the middle for a 21-yard leaping touchdown reception.
Olave also had a 14-yard touchdown reception that cut Chicago’s lead to 20-14 with 9:40 left in the third quarter.
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“I thought Chris played great football today,” Saints coach Kellen Moore said. “I thought he was a standout player. He made some big plays on the field.
“Maybe he had a couple of falls last week, but he responded really well. I think his focus and attention to detail was really good today.”
While Olave played a starring role, Rattler threw three interceptions and lost a fumble. New Orleans had just 44 yards rushing, compared to Chicago’s 222 yards.
The Saints (1-6) also lost two key offensive players to injuries. Running back Kendre Miller left with a knee injury and center Erik McCoy had a biceps problem.
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“There’s concern for both guys,” Moore said. “We’ll see how it goes. Obviously, the tests will confirm it tomorrow.”
New Orleans has lost two in a row since his only victory against the New York Giants on October 5. When asked about juggling his own success with the team’s rocky start, Olave said it’s difficult.
“I’m really a team player, but it feels good from my point of view,” he said. “But I’m always the first to win. I always want to win first and we’re not doing that right now.”
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