New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave was forced to leave Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after being hit hard by two defenders.

Olave caught a short pass from quarterback Spencer Rattler, who was starting in place of Derek Carr in the first game of his NFL career. He was met by defensemen Zyon McCollum and Tykee Smith. As the defenders passed Olave, the wide receiver coughed up the ball.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Tampa Bay’s Antoine Winfield Jr. (left) reaches for a fumble by Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (bottom) that the Buccaneers returned for a touchdown on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)

Saints wide receiver Chris Olave fumbles the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in New Orleans, Sunday, October 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)

Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. recovered the fumble and ran it back for a touchdown. Olave appeared dazed and confused as medical trainers examined him and helped him off the field.

Former Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas, who was the 2019 Offensive Player of the Year, wondered where the targeting penalty was when McCollum tagged Olave to get rid of the ball.

“No damn targeting,” Thomas wrote on X.

There was no flag and Tampa Bay took a 14-0 lead in the first quarter.

CALEB WILLIAMS LEADS BEARS TO BIG VICTORY OVER JAGUARS WITH 4 TOUCHDOWN PASSES

Olave was later ruled out of the game due to a concussion.

The third-year wide receiver had 22 catches for 275 yards and a touchdown in the first five games of the season against Tampa Bay.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. returns a fumble by Saints wide receiver Chris Olave for a touchdown at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Oct. 13, 2024. (Stephen Lew-Imagn Images)

He was in the spotlight last week after his brother questioned why he only scored one goal in the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

New Orleans lost last week’s game 26-13.

Follow Fox News Digital Sports coverage on X and subscribe the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.