There’s some bittersweet news for NFL players, coaches and fans calling for a replacement of the turf at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
MetLife Stadium has been the home of the New York Giants and New York Jets since 2010. The stadium uses FieldTurf, which has been widely panned by players amid the alarming amount of non-contact injuries suffered on the surface.
Per ESPN’s Jordan Raanan, the MetLife Stadium turf will be replaced for the 2023 season, but the turf will not be replaced with grass. MetLife Stadium provide the following statement to ESPN:
“We evaluate our field each season and historically have replaced our playing surface every 3-4 years. We have made the decision to replace the field in 2023 and are currently reviewing proposals from multiple vendors for a new synthetic surface.”
Concern over the turf at MetLife Stadium largely came into focus during Week 2 of the 2020 season, when the San Francisco 49ers came to play the New York Jets. In that game, the reigning NFC Champions lost Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas for the year with ACL tears.
Running back Raheem Mostert suffered an MCL sprain during that game, and starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a high ankle sprain. The injury bug was too much for San Francisco to overcome, and they fell to a last-place finish in the NFC West (6-10).
The Giants lost standout receiver Sterling Shepard for the season when he suffered a torn ACL on a non-contact play in Week 3 against the Dallas Cowboys.
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16 of the 32 NFL teams play on artificial turf. Prominent players such as Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and 49ers tight end George Kittle have been vocal about their unhappiness with artificial turf.
The Giants will host the Detroit Lions at MetLife Stadium this Sunday. As for the Jets, they’ll travel to Foxborough to take on the AFC East rival New England Patriots.
