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Chris Olave Chris Olave Expected to miss Week 18
Thu, Jan 1, 2026, 9:21 AM
Olave (illness) is expected to sit out Sunday's regular-season finale against the Falcons after a blood clot was detected in his lung, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Analysis: Olave's blood clot was reportedly detected early and is an issue he will be able to have treated without significant concern, but it will evidently cause the standout wide receiver to sit out New Orleans' regular-season finale. If Olave is indeed officially ruled out for Week 18, he will conclude the 2025 campaign with 100 catches for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns (on 155 targets) across 16 regular-season appearances. Kevin Austin, Mason Tipton (groin), Dante Pettis and practice-squad member Ronnie Bell will lead the Saints' wide receiver corps Sunday, assuming Olave is unable to go. Per Underhill, Olave is in line to be discharged from the hospital Thursday. |
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Mason Tipton Mason Tipton No practice Wednesday
Wed, Dec 31, 2025, 4:21 PM
Tipton (groin) did not participate in Wednesday's practice, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Analysis: Tipton logged three consecutive limited practices prior to being ruled out to face the Titans in Week 17, so to see him now listed as a non-participant could indicate a setback in his recovery. If Tipton isn't able to gain clearance for Sunday's regular-season finale against the Falcons, expect all of Kevin Austin, Dante Pettis and practice-squad man Ronnie Bell to see increased opportunities behind No. 1 wideout Chris Olave. |
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Alvin Kamara Alvin Kamara Remains absent from practice
Wed, Dec 31, 2025, 4:12 PM
Kamara (knee/ankle) did not participate in Wednesday's practice, Ross Jackson of WWL Louisiana reports.
Analysis: Kamara has missed five straight games due to a sprained MCL suffered Week 12 versus Atlanta, giving him only two more chances to practice before Sunday's regular-season finale rematch against the Falcons. Of course, with New Orleans already definitively eliminated from playoff contention, there's little incentive in pushing the 30-year-old veteran back on the field if he's anything less than 100 percent healthy. Audric Estime impressed as the leader of the Saints' backfield against the Titans in Week 17, rushing 14 times for 94 yards and one score. |
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Jack Stoll Jack Stoll Out for Week 18 finale
Wed, Dec 31, 2025, 3:18 PM
Stoll (knee) has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Falcons.
Analysis: Stoll was injured in last Sunday's win over the Titans and will miss the regular-season finale. The 27-year-old tight end appeared in 15 games for New Orleans this season, making four starts, and caught six of 11 targets for 46 yards and one touchdown on 21 percent of the offensive snaps. |
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Chris Olave Chris Olave Comes down with illness
Wed, Dec 31, 2025, 3:15 PM
Olave didn't practice Wednesday due to an illness, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Olave has been dealing with a back issue from time to time since Week 13, but he's suited up for each of the last five contests on his way to 31 catches (on 48 targets) for 429 yards and five touchdowns during that span. Now with an illness in tow, his status bears watching as the week goes to get a sense of his potential to play Sunday in Atlanta. |
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Taysom Hill Taysom Hill Records zero yards in win
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 9:09 PM
Hill totaled three carries for zero rushing yards and did not record a target during Sunday's 34-26 win versus Tennessee.
Analysis: Hill didn't serve as the Saints' primary rusher as he did in last week's win versus the Jets. The 35-year-old has now logged three or fewer carries in four of the last five contests, and he's now tallied 52 rushing attempts for 114 yards across 12 appearances this season. Hill has factored in as a receiver at times this season, but he's recorded a target in only six games this season, including just four games with one or more catches. Hill's irregular workload doesn't bode well for his fantasy production in the Saints' regular-season finale against Atlanta. |
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Evan Hull Evan Hull Logs two rushes in win
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 8:58 PM
Hull tallied two carries for three yards during Sunday's 34-26 victory versus Tennessee.
Analysis: Hull had a minimal workload for the fifth week in a row, while fellow backup running back Audric Estime saw an increased workload with a team-high 14 carries for 94 yards. These two have filled in for the Saints' depleted backfield with Devin Neal (hamstring) and Kendre Miller (knee) on IR while RB1 Alvin Kamara (knee) is still sidelined. The 25-year-old Hull has now totaled 17 carries for 36 yards across five appearances this season. He should once again see sparse usage in New Orleans' regular-season finale versus Atlanta. |
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Dante Pettis Dante Pettis Grabs three passes Week 17
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 8:36 PM
Pettis gathered in three of four targets for 53 yards during Sunday's 34-26 victory over the Titans.
Analysis: Pettis logged more than one target for the first time this season, as he finished tied for third on the team in this category Sunday. The 30-year-old served as the Saints' WR3 with Mason Tipton (groin) inactive. Coming into Week 17, Pettis totaled just one reception on two targets across six appearances. He could see a moderate workload again if Tipton remains sidelined in the regular-season finale versus Atlanta. |
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Kevin Austin Kevin Austin Solid production in Week 17 win
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 6:03 PM
Austin brought in four of five targets for 52 yards and a touchdown in the Saints' 34-26 win over the Titans on Sunday.
Analysis: Austin continued to fill an elevated role with Mason Tipton (groin) sidelined, and the second-year wideout provided season-best catch and receiving yardage totals while also equaling his season high in targets. The Notre Dame product has multiple receptions in three consecutive games heading into the Week 18 finale on the road against the Falcons. |
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Juwan Johnson Juwan Johnson Keeps ascending in Week 17 win
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 5:26 PM
Johnson brought in all four targets for 95 yards and a touchdown in the Saints' 34-26 win over the Titans on Sunday.
Analysis: Johnson tied for second in receptions while checking in as the runner-up in receiving yards as well for the Saints, continuing a multi-week run of productive performances. The veteran tight end has at least four receptions in seven straight games, and he's recorded at least 89 receiving yards in three of those contests. Johnson heads into a Week 18 road matchup against the Falcons already boasting a career-high 74 catches and 828 receiving yards across 16 games. |
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Audric Estime Audric Estime Career-high rushing total in win
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 5:15 PM
Estime rushed 14 times for 94 yards and a touchdown while bringing in his only target for four yards in the Saints' 34-26 win over the Titans on Sunday.
Analysis: After both Estime and fellow back Evan Hull ceded plenty of work to jack-of-all-trades veteran Taysom Hill in a Week 16 win over the Jets, head coach Kellen Moore opted for a more traditional ground attack Sunday. Estime was the primary beneficiary, outpacing Hill and Hull by three and two carries, respectively, and recording a career-best rushing yardage total in the process. The 2024 fifth-round pick of the Broncos ripped off a 32-yard touchdown run to seal the win with just under four minutes remaining, and given his production, Estime looks like a strong candidate to helm the running game again in a Week 18 road matchup against the Falcons. |
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Tyler Shough Tyler Shough Nearly perfect in Week 17 win
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 4:09 PM
Shough completed 22 of 27 passes for 333 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions while rushing four times for six yards in the Saints' 34-26 win over the Titans on Sunday. He also committed a fumble recovered by New Orleans.
Analysis: Shough stuck to a tight circle of six targets overall and was once again operating short-handed in his pass-catching corps, considering Mason Tipton (groin) was inactive. Nevertheless, the rookie brought the Saints back from an early 13-0 deficit with the help of 19- and 10-yard touchdown passes to Chris Olave and Kevin Austin, respectively. Shough's first pair of career 300-yard performances have come in the last two games, and he'll aim to close out what has turned into a highly promising rookie season in a Week 18 road matchup against the Falcons. |
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Chris Olave Chris Olave Continues hot streak in win
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 3:45 PM
Olave secured eight of 11 targets for 119 yards and a touchdown in the Saints' 34-26 win over the Titans on Sunday.
Analysis: The stretch-run chemistry between rookie signal-caller Tyler Shough and Olave continued in fine fashion Sunday, with the latter leading the Saints in receptions, receiving yards and targets. Olave went in for his ninth touchdown of the season on a 19-yard grab early in the third quarter, and he eclipsed the century mark through the air for the third time on the campaign. Olave has at least six receptions and 85 receiving yards in three straight games and has already locked in his first 100-catch season ahead of a Week 18 road matchup against the Falcons. |
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Jack Stoll Jack Stoll Ruled out with knee injury
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 12:33 PM
Stoll (knee) has been ruled out for the rest of Sunday's game against the Titans.
Analysis: Stoll sustained the injury in the first quarter and was carted to the locker room after being evaluated initially by medical staff in the blue medical tent. Moliki Matavao and Treyton Welch could see more rotational snaps at tight end behind Taysom Hill and Juwan Johnson due to Stoll's injury. |
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Mason Tipton Mason Tipton Inactive in Week 17
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 10:44 AM
Tipton (groin) is listed as inactive Sunday in Tennessee.
Analysis: Tipton was listed as limited on all three of the Saints' Week 17 practice reports due to a groin injury, and while he went into the weekend with a questionable designation, he isn't healthy enough to suit up. With Tipton sidelined for the first time since Week 2, Kevin Austin, Dante Pettis and Ronnie Bell will be the team's available WR options Sunday behind No. 1 Chris Olave. Tipton's next chance for game action is Week 18 in Atlanta. |
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Chris Olave Chris Olave Active Sunday, as expected
Sun, Dec 28, 2025, 10:36 AM
Olave (back) is active for Sunday's game at Tennessee.
Analysis: Olave has periodically been bothered by a back issue since Week 13 prep, but he's suited up for each of the Saints' last four contests on his way to a 23-310-4 line on 37 targets during that span. His limited session Friday led the team to deem him questionable for Week 17 action, but Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reported Saturday that Olave was expected to be active and ready for his normal workload, the former of which now has been confirmed. Assuming he's good for his roughly better than 80 percent weekly snap share Sunday, Olave again will operate as the top pass catcher for rookie QB Tyler Shough. |
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Chris Olave Chris Olave Expected to play Sunday
Sat, Dec 27, 2025, 3:01 PM
Olave (back) is traveling with the Saints to Nashville for Sunday's game against the Titans, Nick Underhill of NewOrleans.Football reports.
Analysis: Per Underhill, Olave, who was listed as limited in practice Friday and questionable for Sunday's contest, is expected to be a full go against Tennessee. In any case, the wideout's Week 17 status will be confirmed before Sunday's early slate of games, with the Saints kicking off at 1:00 p.m. ET. |
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Ronnie Bell Ronnie Bell Elevated Saturday
Sat, Dec 27, 2025, 2:36 PM
Bell was elevated from the Saints' practice squad to the active roster Saturday, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: The third-year pro from Michigan joined the Saints' practice squad in early October and has now been promoted to the active roster. Bell's last in-game action came with the 49ers in 2024, when he appeared in nine contests and caught two of six targets for 22 yards across 105 offensive snaps. He's expected to play a depth role in New Orleans' wide receiver corps during Sunday's matchup against the Titans. |
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Alvin Kamara Alvin Kamara Out again in Week 17
Fri, Dec 26, 2025, 3:37 PM
Kamara (knee/ankle) has been ruled out for Sunday's game in Tennessee, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Kamara thus will miss a fifth consecutive contest due to the sprained MCL that he suffered in Week 12 against the Falcons. His last chance to play again this season is a Week 18 visit to the Falcons, but the Saints have been out of the playoff picture for some time, so it'd be somewhat of a surprise if Kamara suits up for that contest. |
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Mason Tipton Mason Tipton Officially questionable for Week 17
Fri, Dec 26, 2025, 3:37 PM
Tipton (groin) is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Titans, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Tipton has been listed as a limited participant on all three of New Orleans' practice reports for Week 17. With Chris Olave (back) also considered questionable to play Sunday after having been added to the injury report Friday, Tipton could have a chance to handle an expanded role on offense alongside Kevin Austin if he's cleared to suit up versus Tennessee. That said, Olave has played through his back issue with regularity since roughly Week 13. |
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