Broncos linebacker Aaron Patrick has filed a lawsuit against the NFL and the Los Angeles Chargers, among others, after suffering a knee injury last month, alleging mats on the sideline at SoFi Stadium were a contributing factor.
In documents obtained by TMZ, Patrick elaborates on the alleged series of events, which took place during a “Monday Night Football” matchup against the Chargers in Los Angeles. When attempting to make a tackle on a punt return in overtime, the 25-year-old said “his momentum carried him into the sideline area,” where he stepped on mats that covered cords and cables in order to avoid an NFL official.
Patrick claims his knee bent awkwardly after his foot got tangled up in the mats and cords. He was placed on injured reserve in October as a result of a torn ACL.
Patrick, an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Kentucky, is currently suing for unspecified damages, which includes future earning potential and lost bonuses.
In a statement, Patrick’s attorney, William M. Berman, expressed the importance of player safety.
“Player safety should be the foremost of importance to the NFL and its owners,” Berman said. “The NFL is a multi-billion-dollar sports enterprise and business, and it needs to do everything possible to protect its players from non-contact game injuries.”
Berman also decried the mats used inside SoFi Stadium, which cost $5 billion to construct.
“The stadium should have the state-of-the-art equipment to protect for player safety, and not use the type of $100 mats that you would expect to see in a restaurant kitchen,” Berman said.
Patrick claims those involved — including ESPN and the mat company — should have recognized they “presented a dangerous hazard for players.” Further, Patrick believes the official should have been standing elsewhere.
Patrick signed with the Broncos in September 2021. He previously played for the Jaguars.