New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave was added to the injury report Thursday with a hamstring issue and practiced on a limited basis, creating a new Week 2 availability question before Sunday’s game against the Baltimore Ravens.
Olave was not listed on Wednesday’s report, so the Thursday designation represents a genuine change rather than a continuation of an existing injury-management plan. Defensive end Chase Young was also newly added with a calf injury and was limited.
Olave’s hamstring issue is new this week
The Saints’ official Thursday injury report lists Olave as a limited participant after he was absent from Wednesday’s report. That does not establish that he will miss the Ravens game, but a midweek addition is significant because it means New Orleans is now managing a problem that was not part of the initial practice-week picture.
The next practice report matters more than any immediate assumption. If Olave is able to remain limited or return to full work Friday, the concern level would be lower. A downgrade to non-participation would make the final game designation much more important.
For now, Olave should be treated as a player to monitor rather than a confirmed absence.
The timing matters after Olave’s huge Week 1
Olave opened the season as one of the central pieces of New Orleans’ passing game. He caught 10 passes for 182 yards in the Saints’ overtime loss at Detroit, according to Crescent City Sports, giving quarterback Tyler Shough a high-volume target while the offense pushed the Lions to the final possession.
FSN covered New Orleans’ 31-30 overtime loss to Detroit, a game in which the Saints erased a large deficit before falling late. Olave’s ability to win downfield and handle volume was a major part of why the passing game remained dangerous.
If the hamstring issue affects his availability or workload, New Orleans would have to redistribute targets and ask more from the rest of the receiving group against Baltimore.
Chase Young was also added Thursday
The Saints made another notable addition to the report on defense. Young was listed as limited with a calf injury after not appearing on Wednesday’s report.
As with Olave, the timing is the story. A new Thursday listing does not automatically mean Young is in danger of missing the game, but it creates a second late-week health situation New Orleans did not have at the start of preparations.
The Saints already had several other players on the report. Tight end Juwan Johnson improved from a Wednesday non-participant to limited work Thursday, while defensive end Cameron Jordan remained limited with a hamstring issue. Running back Alvin Kamara was a full participant for the second straight day despite a knee listing.
Baltimore has its own injury questions
The Ravens’ side of the matchup also includes notable injury uncertainty. Baltimore listed wide receiver Zay Flowers as a non-participant for a second straight day with a hamstring issue, according to the Saints’ combined injury report.
That does not directly change Olave’s status, but it adds to a Week 2 matchup in which both offenses may be waiting on important skill-position availability before finalizing the game plan.
What to watch Friday
Friday’s practice and final game-status report should clarify whether Olave’s hamstring issue is a manageable late-week limitation or something that could affect Sunday.
The most encouraging outcome for New Orleans would be stable or increased participation without a significant game designation. If Olave is downgraded, the Saints would have to prepare for a different receiving rotation against Baltimore.
Young’s calf status is also worth tracking because both players were new additions Thursday. The Saints entered the week with other injuries to manage, but Olave and Young are now the two freshest developments.
Sources
- New Orleans Saints: Week 2 injury report vs. Ravens (September 17, 2026)
- NBC Sports: Saints add Chris Olave, Chase Young to Thursday injury report (September 17, 2026)
- Crescent City Sports: Olave and Young added Thursday (September 17, 2026)