Saints missing Olave, Shaheed for TNF vs. Broncos

The New Orleans Saints will play Week 7 without several key offensive players.

Wide receiver Chris Olave is ruled out for Thursday's game against the Denver Broncos due to a concussion, head coach Dennis Allen announced Wednesday.

Olave sustained a concussion during Sunday's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 2022 first-round pick - who topped 1,000 yards in each of his first two NFL seasons - has caught 23 passes for 280 yards and one touchdown so far in 2024.

Allen also said that receiver Rashid Shaheed will miss the Broncos matchup due to a knee injury, according to team reporter Erin Summers. Shaheed will undergo meniscus surgery and could land on injured reserve, which would sideline him for at least four games. Shaheed has established himself as a premier big-play threat for New Orleans and leads the team with 349 receiving yards (17.5 per catch) and three TD receptions.

With Olave and Shaheed sidelined, rookies Mason Tipton and Bub Means are projected to be the Saints' top wide receivers versus the Broncos. The team should also rely heavily on running back Alvin Kamara and tight ends Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau.

Kamara leads the NFL with 132 touches this season. He's amassed 666 scrimmage yards and seven total TDs.

The Saints are also without quarterback Derek Carr and do-it-all weapon Taysom Hill. Hill missed last week's loss and is listed as questionable to face Denver after injuring his ribs, while Carr is battling an oblique injury. Rookie Spencer Rattler is expected to start for a second straight week.