NFLPA director demands change from turf to natural grass after Rodgers’ injury

Fans were in shock following Aaron Rodgers tearing his left Achilles tendon during his fourth snap of the New York Jets’ season-opening game on Monday. After being sacked by Leonard Floyd, defensive end for the Buffalo Bills, Rodgers fell awkwardly onto the turf. Rodgers is now out for the remainder of the season following surgery to repair the injury.

Lloyd Howell, executive director for the NFL Players Association, released a statement calling for all NFL games to be played on natural grass.

“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,” Howell said in his statement.

Earlier this year, MetLife Stadium (home of both the Jets and the New York Giants) installed FieldTurf for a softer feel than the previous synthetic turf.

During an interview on Wednesday with ESPN’s First Take, Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner, described the natural grass versus synthetic turf debate as a “complex issue.” He says the focus needs to be on player safety.

“What we want to go is on science,” Goodell said. “We want to go on what’s the best from an injury standpoint to prevent the injuries, to give our players the best possible surface to play on. That can’t be done by my looking at a particular injury. It’s got to be done with a real process — to look at it with medical experts, look at it with engineers, look at it with people in cleats, look at it on every aspect of what could go into that injury.”

Other reactions include Robert Saleh, head coach of the New York Jets, who doesn’t believe the playing surface could cause the injury.

Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Saleh said, “If it was a noncontact injury, I think that’d be something to discuss. But I think that was trauma-induced. I do know the players prefer grass and there’s a lot invested in those young men.”

Patrick Mahomes, two-time NFL MVP quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, reposted Howell’s statement on X (formerly known as Twitter). Mahomes added during a Wednesday press conference, “The numbers say that grass is healthier for the players and I want to play on the surface that keeps me healthy.”