13 September 2023 , 16:34
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NFL players "overwhelmingly prefer" playing on natural grass surfaces than artificial turf, according to the NFLPA in the fallout to Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending injury.
Rodgers’ anticipated New York Jets debut ended in its first series, as the iconic quarterback went down following a sack by Buffalo Bills pass-rusher Leonard Floyd. After he was sacked by Leonard Floyd, Rodgers had to be escorted off the field Jets staff members, and he was carted into the tunnel for further treatment wearing a protective boot before his torn Achilles tendon injury was confirmed.
When Rodgers went down in the first quarter, it appeared his left ankle may have caught on the surface at MetLife Stadium, although Jets head coach Robert Saleh revealed it was a non-contact injury. Saleh separately acknowledged knowing that NFL players prefer natural grass when speaking on Rodgers’ injury on Tuesday.
NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell weighed in on the debate, calling for every NFL stadium to have natural grass and not artificial turf. The body released a statement, which read: “Moving all stadium fields to high quality natural grass surfaces is the easiest decision the NFL can make.
“The players overwhelmingly prefer it and the data is clear that grass is simply safer than artificial turf. It is an issue that has been near the top of the players’ list during my team visits and one I have raised with the NFL.
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“While we know there is an investment to making this change, there is a bigger cost to everyone in the business if we keep losing our best players to unnecessary injuries. It makes no sense that stadiums can flip over to superior grass surfaces when the World Cup comes, or soccer clubs come to visit for exhibition games in the summer, but inferior aritificial surfaces are acceptable for our own players.
“This is worth the investment and it simply needs to change now.”
For the 2026 World Cup, set to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada, FIFA has mandated that all games must be played on natural grass surfaces when selecting host cities. Of the 17 US finalist cities considered for the final selection, 10 had previously played on artificial turf surfaces.
Aaron Rodgers got to his feet before sitting on the turf after realising the severity of his injury (AP)The statement comes after Green Bay Packers offensive lineman David Bakhtiari took to social media to immediately blame the surface for Rodgers’ injury, calling out the NFL for not getting rid of artifical turf sooner. He wrote: “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.
“I’m sick of this..Do better!”
The artificial playing surfaces used at MetLife Stadium and similar venues across the United States have garnered growing concern over the last few years, with NFL stars voicing their frustrations. Many teams have complained about the surface, including the San Francisco 49ers after they lost five players to injury against the Jets in 2020.
The NFL claims injury rates are roughly equivalent on natural grass and artificial turf fields. As reported by The Athletic, the NFL and NFLPA convene with artificial turf manufacturers twice a year to assess injury rates associated with these playing surfaces.