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Last night, the New Orleans Saints fell to the Atlanta Falcons by a score of 20-17, but they lost much more than the game by the time the clock expired. The team lost four players to injuries over the course of the matchup, with two of them being diagnosed with concussions and the other two heading to the locker room after suffering groin injuries. Three key members of the offensive squad were also temporarily sidelined, although they returned for the final drive of the game (which resulted in a game-sealing interception by the Falcons).
The injuries sparked yet another conversation about the downsides of Thursday Night Football, which has been the target of a great deal of criticism over the course of the season. Buffalo Bills guard Richie Incognito accused the NFL of prioritizing profit over player safety, and multiple members of the Seattle Seahawks voiced their opposition to the games, with the ever-vocal Richard Sherman going as far to say they should be “illegal.”
After the game, Saints quarterback Drew Brees was asked about whether or not the shortened week is to blame for an increase in injuries, and he did not hold back:
“It’s 100 percent a product of playing on Thursday night. Do you understand what guys’ bodies go through in a game? And then to have to turn around four days later and to play? Look at the injury studies: They’re off the charts. They’re off the charts. So is this smart as it pertains to guys’ health and safety? No, absolutely not.”
At his post-game press conference, Saints coach Sean Payton asked reporters why they thought there were so many injuries, which resulted in an awkward silence before one member of the media piped up by suggesting “The shortened week?” like a college student who didn’t do the reading doing what he can to up his participation grade.
The NFL has previously said they would reconsider whether or not to continue the practice of Thursday night games after the end of this season, and it’s hard to think there won’t be some sort of adjustment to the schedule when you consider the ever-growing opposition.
I just hope fans will be able to live without the overuse of the Madden-inspired SkyCam angle and Color Rush uniforms.