New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending injury refueled a debate over playing surfaces across the league.
The new leader of the NFL Players Association, Lloyd Howell, is making a huge demand in the wake of the Jets quarterback now being out for the season as a result of him tearing his Achilles.
NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell calls for all stadiums in the league to switch to natural grass in the name of players’ safety.
“Moving all stadiums to high-quality natural grass surfaces is the easiest decision the NFL can make,” Howell said. “The players overwhelmingly prefer it and the data is clear that grass is simply safer than turf.”
Howell also asked why stadiums are able to switch to natural grass when hosting soccer matches but are unwilling to do so full-time.
Howell made the plea two days after New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers tore his left Achilles against the Buffalo Bills after playing only four snaps.
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David Bakhtiari didn’t mince words when his friend and former teammate Aaron Rodgers sustained a season-ending Achilles tear Monday. The longtime Green Bay Packers left tackle immediately made a pointed call for the league to install natural grass fields at all NFL stadiums.
“How many more players have to get hurt on ARTIFICIAL TURF??!” Bakhtiari wrote on social media. “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!”
Rodgers left Monday’s game against the Buffalo Bills on his first drive with the New York Jets after joining the team via trade from the Green Bay Packers in April. All of the hype from the offseason will now have to wait a year.
MetLife Stadium has been a frequent target of critics after a rash of injuries to San Francisco 49ers players in a 2020 game against the Jets.
Officials installed new turf at MetLife Stadium in the offseason but it’s not natural grass.
