New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chis Olave took a hard hit against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday and was carted off the field after being stabilized on a backboard.

He was then ruled out with concussion and transported to a Charlotte hospital for further evaluation. Olave also suffered a concussion in Week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which sidelined him in Week 7. He returned to action last week.

The hit came midway through the first quarter. Saints quarterback Derek Carr targeted Olave on a pass over the middle of the field. Panthers defenders Xavier Woods and Mike Jackson were in coverage and sandwiched Olave with simultaneous hits as the tipped ball went out of Olave’s reach.

Woods hit Olave high on Olave’s blind side. Olave fell to the grass and immediately went limp. Several flags were thrown.

Olave remained on the field for several moments while medical staff tended to him. Players from both teams surrounded Olave as silence fell at Bank of America Stadium.

Olave was eventually placed on a cart and driven off the field. He showed movement in his arms and feet when he was taken off the field and taken to the hospital a short time later.

Woods was penalized for unnecessary roughness during the hit.

Olave said Thursday that he planned to wear a goalkeeper cap on his helmet during Sunday’s game to protect his head as he returns from his previous concussion. He chose not to wear one for the game.

Olave’s brother, Josh Olave, later tweeted that Chris had called him and was “up and active.”

The Saints announced before the game ended that Olave was released from the hospital and would return to New Orleans with the team on their flight home.

Josh Olave and Michael Thomas criticize Derek Carr

Josh had been active on social media after his brother was injured and endorsed criticism of Carr from former Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas.

Thomas posted several posts criticizing Carr and placing blame on the Saints quarterback for his throw on the play that led to Olave’s injury.

Josh retweeted a message from Thomas stating that Carr needed to “get his ass yelled at.”

Thomas played seven seasons with the Saints, including two as Olave’s teammate. He remains a free agent this season after last playing for New Orleans in 2023.