12 September 2023 , 12:58
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Green Bay Packers star David Bakhtiari took aim at the NFL for using artificial turf as support for Aaron Rodgers flooding in from around the NFL after the four-time MVP went down injured on his New York Jets debut.
Amid an off-season of expectation and anticipation, Rodgers’ Jets debut ended prematurely when the veteran quarterback suffered a suspected torn Achilles just four snaps into his opening series. Jets head coach Robert Saleh has built a talented defense, but the offensive line is a known weakness - and it was exploited by the Buffalo Bills on Monday night.
After he was sacked by Buffalo free agency addition Leonard Floyd, Rodgers stayed down on the turf and had to be escorted off the field by Jets staff members. Following a brief assessment, he was carted into the tunnel for further treatment wearing a protective boot before he was ruled out of the rest of the game as Zach Wilson took his place.
When Rodgers went down in the first quarter, it appeared his left ankle may have caught on the turf at MetLife Stadium. Like millions of others, Bakhtiari - who spent 10 seasons as Rodgers’ teammate in Green Bay - was glued to the action.
X-rays on an ankle break were negative, but the Jets and Rodgers now nervously await the results of an MRI that will detect any soft tissue and ligament damage. Bakhtiari took to social media to deliver his verdict.
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“WTF!!!!,” Bakhtiari tweeted. “That injury is TURF related. Can we put an end to this s*** already.”
Bakhtiari was not done there. The veteran offensive lineman called out the NFL for not getting rid of artificial turf, pointing out that a number of stadiums are installing grass for the upcoming 2026 World Cup - something they haven't been willing to do for franchises despite players calling for changes for years.
“Congrats @nfl,” the 31-year-old continued. “How many players have to get hurt on ARTIFICIAL TURF??! You care more about soccer players than us. You plan to remove all artificial turf for the World Cup coming up. So clearly it’s feasible.
Aaron Rodgers played alongside David Bakhtiari for 10 years with the Green Bay Packers (Getty Images)“I’m sick of this..Do better!”
Multiple NFL teams have decided to remove fake grass for a hybrid form of grass ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. NFL players have been calling on the league to make the switch for years, as lower leg injuries occur when a player’s foot gets stuck in the ground - with Bakhtiari not the only player to blame the artificial surface .
At MetLife Stadium, injuries have been prevalent over the last few years. Many teams have complained about the surface, including the San Francisco 49ers after they lost five players to injury against the Jets in 2020.