Saints' Olave catches 2 TDs amid extension talks

CHICAGO (AP) — While New Orleans struggled offensively on Sunday, Chris Olave had one of his best games of the season.

It was interesting timing for the fourth-year receiver and his slumping team.

Olave had five catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns in the Saints' 26-14 loss at Chicago. He scored a total of two TDs in his previous 14 games.

The 25-year-old Olave 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 coming up on Nov. 4, but the team also is talking to Olave and his camp about a possible contract extension.

“We've been having conversations since like the beginning of the year,” Olave said. “Like I said at the beginning of the year, I feel like I got to prove I'm that type of player. I feel like I'm just getting in my groove, last game and this game, so I feel like it's only going to get better.”

Olave was selected by New Orleans with the No. 11 pick in the 2022 draft out of Ohio State. He had a breakout performance in his second year in the league, finishing with 87 receptions for 1,123 yards and five TDs.

But he missed nine games last season because of two concussions, finishing with a career-low 32 catches for 400 yards.

He had at least six receptions in the Saints' first three games this year, but he said he felt like he turned a corner when he had six catches for 98 yards in last weekend's 25-19 loss to New England. He almost had a bigger performance against the Patriots, but he had a couple of costly drops.

“I'm getting back in my groove. I'm getting more comfortable out there,” he said. “Just trying to keep balling.”

New Orleans was struggling to get anything going in Chicago before Olave hauled in a 57-yard pass from Spencer Rattler late in the first half. After Rattler threw an incompletion, Olave went over the middle for a leaping 21-yard touchdown reception.

Olave also had a 14-yard TD catch that trimmed Chicago's lead to 20-14 with 9:40 left in the third quarter.

“I thought Chris played some really big-time football today,” Saints coach Kellen Moore said. “I thought he was a highlight. He made some big-time plays downfield.

“He maybe had a couple drops last week, but he responded really well. I thought his focus, his 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 on the ground, compared to 222 yards for Chicago.

The Saints (1-6) also lost two key offensive players to injuries. Running back Kendre Miller departed with a knee injury, and center Erik McCoy had a biceps issue.

“There’s concern for both those 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 its only victory against the New York Giants on Oct. 5. Asked about juggling his own success with the team's difficult start, Olave said it's tough.

“I'm really a team player, but it feels good from my point of view,” he said. “But I'm always win-first. I always want to win first and we're not doing that right now.”

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