The NFLPA is coming to Aaron Rodgers’ and the Jets’ defense.
NFLPA Executive Director Lloyd Howell released a statement calling for all stadiums to have grass fields after Rodgers, 39, suffered a torn left Achilles at MetLife Stadium on Monday.
“Moving all stadium fields to high quality natural grass surfaces is the easiest decision the NFL can make,” Howell said in the statement, per ESPN.
“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.
“While we know there is an investment to making this change, there is a bigger cost to everyone in our 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 artificial surfaces are acceptable for our own players. This is worth the investment and simply needs to change now.”
The debate of grass fields versus artificial turf popped up following Rodger’s season-ending injury that occurred Monday on the new synthetic turf at MetLife Stadium, which has often been criticized for its playing conditions.
Rodgers was sacked by Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd and tore his Achilles, and the entire outlook of the Jets’ season changed with that one play.
Jets cornerback DJ Reed tweeted Tuesday: “We need real grass for all of our stadiums @NFL.”
David Bakhtiari, the Packers’ left tackle and one of Rodgers’ best friends, also chimed in.
“Congrats @nfl. How many more players have to get hurt on ARTIFICIAL TURF??!” Bakhtiari posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “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!”
MetLife Stadium received new synthetic turf for this season, but it didn’t take long for the turf conditions to come under fire.
Giants owner John Mara has said he hopes to install a grass field at MetLife Stadium in the future, and the stadium will have grass for the 2026 World Cup.
Nick Bosa, Sterling Shepard, Kyle Fuller and Solomon Thomas are among those who, like Rodgers, have suffered season-ending lower-half injuries at MetLife Stadium.
