NFL fans fear Thursday Night Football 'snoozefest' as Saints and Broncos injury reports released

The injuries keep pouring in for both the 3-3 Denver Broncos and 2-4 New Orleans Saints ahead of their clash on "Thursday Night Football".

The game could have been billed as an exciting matchup between a rejuvenated Saints offense - one that scored 91 points in its first two games - and rookie phenom Bo Nix in a return to New Orleans for coach Sean Payton. Instead, fans will be treated to a game set up to be perhaps the least interesting game of the season - unless you're a member of the Spencer Rattler hive.

Who's out? The Saints are missing quarterback Derek Carr (oblique), receiver Chris Olavae (concussion), receiver Rashid Shaheed (knee), and tight end knife Taysom Hill (ribs, doubtful). For the Broncos, cornerback Pat Surtain II - perhaps the most recognizable player on the team in transition - will miss the game with a concussion.

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Backup quarterback Rattler and the Saints managed to muster 303 yards of total offense against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week. Now, he'll be tasked to repeat the trick without any of his weapons. Rattler will rely on the receiving trio of Mason Tipton, Bub Means, and Cedrick Wilson Jr against a Broncos defense allowing the fourth-fewest yards per game.

"I think injuries are a challenge in any week, but especially when you're talking about a short week when you're trying to get guys back and ready to go," Saints coach Dennis Allen said. His team has 17 players on the injury report.

Funnily enough, the Denver offense only manages the fourth fewest yards per game. Rookie first-round pick Nix can certainly run but he's averaging the third-fewest yards per pass attempt (5.5) in the NFL.

Veteran receiver Courtland Sutton spoke about the team's particularly slow starts to games. "We can't dig ourselves into a hole that we're going to have to do a lot of things really well in the second half to get out of," he said .

He's absolutely right: Denver has mustered two offensive touchdowns in six first halves. In three contests, the team has failed to score in the first half at all. Fans are not particularly excited to tune in: "I have a feeling Thursday Night Football is gonna be an ugly game since both teams are pretty injured," one pointed out on X.

"The New Orleans Saints practice squad skill players vs. the most boring team in football that is missing their one good player. This Thursday Night is for the true football degenerates. If you find yourself watching this game you have the illness," added another.