{"id":290972,"date":"2025-11-18T12:25:09","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T12:25:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/290972\/"},"modified":"2025-11-18T12:25:09","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T12:25:09","slug":"packers-coach-matt-lafleur-adds-to-metlife-turf-complaints-league-cites-low-injury-rates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/290972\/","title":{"rendered":"Packers coach Matt LaFleur adds to MetLife turf complaints; league cites low injury rates"},"content":{"rendered":"

MetLife Stadium has become notorious for its playing surface over the years. Over a dozen players have suffered<\/a> knee ligament or Achilles tears at MetLife since 2020. In recent years, many players and coaches have complained about the danger of playing on the turf in East Rutherford, N.J. The venue was voted the worst NFL stadium<\/a> in a November 2023 player poll done by The Athletic. One player noted, \u201cthe turf sucks.\u201d<\/p>\n

Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur added to the list of complaints Monday. Packers running back Josh Jacobs suffered a knee contusion in Green Bay\u2019s win over the New York Giants on Sunday, avoiding serious injury. LaFleur cited the \u201chard surface\u201d at MetLife as a contributor to the injury in a news conference Monday.<\/p>\n

Matt LaFleur says Josh Jacobs suffered a knee contusion. IR is not a consideration. Potentially can play Sunday against the Vikings. LaFleur shouts out the “hard surface” at MetLife.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) November 17, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

After high-profile injuries such as Nick Bosa\u2019s torn ACL in 2020 and Jaelan Phillips\u2019 torn Achilles in 2022, the Giants and New York Jets replaced the old surface in 2023. The new FieldTurf Core system is an alternate form of artificial turf<\/a> designed to reduce injuries.<\/p>\n

That hasn\u2019t stopped high-profile injuries from prompting calls for a move to natural grass. After Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson narrowly avoided a severe leg injury in October 2023, he expressed his feelings about the field conditions.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s garbage, man,\u201d Wilson said<\/a> at the time. \u201cYou\u2019re out there running, and all of a sudden your legs aren\u2019t in the same place your head is at.\u201d<\/p>\n

Calls for changes were reignited in late September, when Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers tore his ACL during a home game against the Los Angeles Chargers. Former Giants wideout Odell Beckham Jr. voiced frustration on social media.<\/p>\n

Respect and u kno I loveeeee the giants , but DeathLife has taken too many talented players away from the game. I kno it\u2019s not ALL the turfs fault but at least maybe it to where we\u2019ve gotten all research done to if TURF has to stay it\u2019s at the HIGHEST of quality possible. At\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) September 29, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n

A couple of weeks later, Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter opted<\/a> not to play in Philadelphia\u2019s Week 6 game at MetLife Stadium against the Giants because of concerns about worsening a minor injury, per NFL Network\u2019s Ian Rapoport. In early November, San Francisco 49ers defensive end and 2025 first-round pick Mykel Williams tore his ACL at MetLife against the Giants.<\/p>\n

49ers tight end George Kittle was asked about the turf after the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo NFL field should be the butt of a joke,\u201d Kittle said. \u201cEver. I feel like all fields should have a level of safety to it. I just don\u2019t get why there\u2019s not a standard for, \u2018Hey, you gotta pick between one or two turfs.\u2019 There shouldn\u2019t be 12 different turfs and 12 different grass fields. I just think that\u2019s weird because most other sports, it\u2019s not like basketball players play on different hardwood, soccer players in Europe all play on really nice grass. So it\u2019s just weird to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the field\u2019s reputation, statistics appear to show its improvement since the field change in 2023. According to league injury data in 2024, MetLife was the ninth-best field surface for lower-extremity injuries. For visiting players, it ranked first in the NFL.<\/p>\n

At the NFL\u2019s fall owners\u2019 meeting in October, league officials were quick to push back<\/a> on the danger of the MetLife turf.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey had one of the lowest injury rates, not just (among) synthetic (fields), but across the league last year,\u201d NFL executive vice president for player safety Jeff Miller said. \u201cMetLife is playing really well, and it has for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n

MetLife Stadium did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the latest criticisms of the field.<\/p>\n

The stadium is set to install a temporary natural grass field<\/a> for the 2026 World Cup because of FIFA regulations requiring all matches to be played on natural grass. The venue is set to host the 2026 World Cup Final in July. There are no plans to make the change permanent.<\/p>\n

Though MetLife continues to stick with artificial turf, the Denver Broncos replaced<\/a> their natural grass surface last week before Sunday\u2019s game against the Kansas City Chiefs. It marks the third straight year the Broncos have changed the grass at Empower Field, with hopes of ensuring it remains as safe as possible for the players. CBS commentator Tony Romo, who called Sunday\u2019s contest alongside Jim Nantz, called the field \u201cimmaculate.\u201d<\/p>\n