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INJURY UPDATE: WR Chris Olave Suffers Unexpected Back Injury During Practice – HC Kellen Moore Activates "Backup Plan" Ahead Of Blockbuster Showdown With The Dolphins

New Orleans, Louisiana – 27/11/2025

The New Orleans Saints are gearing up for one of their most important games of the season as they prepare to face the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, but the team absorbed a major jolt on Wednesday when Chris Olave suddenly suffered a back injury during practice. With no prior signs of discomfort, the Saints’ top offensive weapon unexpectedly left the field early, sending the entire facility into high alert.

According to the official injury report, Olave was listed as limited, but the situation felt far more concerning as he was unable to finish practice and required attention from the medical staff. For the Saints, losing Olave at this stage would mean losing the centerpiece of their passing attack.

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Head coach Kellen Moore, usually calm and steady, couldn’t hide the underlying tension when providing the update:

“C.O. had a small issue with his back today, which limited him. Nothing serious, but we absolutely can’t take it lightly. This is an extremely important week, and we’ve activated our backup plan to make sure every scenario is ready — because sometimes even the smallest detail can change the entire landscape of a big game.”

Moore’s “backup plan” includes giving extra snaps to the young receivers, expanding Dante Pettis’ role, and adjusting parts of the playbook to maintain flexibility if Olave isn’t available at full capacity. With the Dolphins’ aggressive press-man coverage and high-speed defense, tweaking the system is now a necessary step.

And Olave isn’t the only concern. Alvin Kamara — the second pillar of the Saints’ offense — was a full DNP due to knee and ankle injuries sustained in last week’s loss to the Falcons. Taliese Fuaga and Devin Neal were also limited with ankle issues, turning Wednesday’s practice into one of the most stressful sessions the team has experienced all season.

Moore admitted the Saints are facing a significant challenge:

“This week isn’t easy. We have to let time and the medical team guide this. But the Saints won’t back down — we’re preparing to play well with whatever lineup we have.”

The matchup with the Dolphins was already billed as a “blockbuster” due to the offensive firepower on both sides. Now, the anticipation has skyrocketed as the status of Chris Olave — and his suddenly troublesome back — hangs in the balance.

Saints Nation is waiting on every update, because the outcome of Sunday’s showdown may hinge entirely on the health of WR12.

Zelensky Accuses Russia of Supplying Suicide Drones to Iran
  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of supplying Iran with Shahed-style suicide drones, which are reportedly being used by Tehran to target U.S. bases and neighboring countries in the Middle East. However, Zelensky has not provided concrete evidence to support these claims. In an interview released by CNN on March 14, Zelensky stated, "I have 100% accurate information that Iran is using this type of UAV to target U.S. bases and neighboring countries in the Middle East." The Shahed drones, originally produced by Russia after receiving a license from Iran, have been implicated in attacks on U.S. and allied military installations in the region. Zelensky further claimed that Russia is also providing intelligence support to Iran's attacks. "Russia's position is that if Washington and Europe are helping Kyiv with intelligence, Moscow can similarly support Tehran," Zelensky added. Despite these bold assertions, the Ukrainian president did not present any direct evidence to substantiate his claims. Neither Russia nor Iran has officially commented on these allegations. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed on March 14 that Iran is "militarily cooperating" with both Russia and China, though he did not provide further details. Earlier reports from The Washington Post cited sources indicating that Russia had provided Iran with intelligence on the location of U.S. military assets in the Middle East. This alleged support is believed to have helped Tehran successfully target a range of high-value targets in the region, including radar systems valued between $500 million to over a billion dollars. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff stated on March 10 that Russia has denied sharing intelligence with Iran, affirming that Washington "can trust" Moscow's statements. Shahed drones, developed by Iran, come in various models and have been a key part of Iran's military capabilities. Iran reportedly supplied several Shahed-136 drones to Russia, granting Moscow a license to produce them under the name Geran-2. The Geran-2, which weighs about 200 kg and carries a 50 kg warhead, has a range of 2,500 km and is primarily used by Russian forces in long-range strikes against Ukraine. However, it can also be used for tactical strikes near the frontlines if needed. Images of a Geran-2 UAV in flight over Kyiv in December 2025 have highlighted its growing role in the conflict. In late February 2026, after the U.S. and Israel launched an attack on Iran, Tehran responded by targeting Israel's territory, U.S. bases in the Middle East, and vital energy infrastructure across the Gulf region with both missiles and suicide drones. According to CBS, the early phase of the conflict saw an Iranian drone strike on a U.S. military operations center in Kuwait, resulting in six soldiers' deaths. The specific type of drone used remains unclear. Additionally, a radar system in Qatar, worth approximately $1.1 billion, was damaged in an attack believed to have been carried out by an Iranian suicide drone. The growing use of these drones by Iran, particularly with alleged Russian support, has further escalated tensions in the Middle East, adding to the already volatile situation between the U.S., Iran, and their respective allies.