Jets fans won't like the latest update on the MetLife Stadium turf situation

The debate over the playing surface at MetLife Stadium is heating up again after another high-profile injury. New York Giants star wide receiver Malik Nabers suffered a season-ending ACL tear at home last week, reigniting long-standing concerns among NFL players about the stadium’s turf.

Despite the outcry, the Jets and Giants have no plans to replace the FieldTurf surface with grass, according to a report from The Athletic's Dianna Russini. Ownership and the stadium’s third-party management group are keeping the current surface, at least for the foreseeable future.

The issue is far from new. Surveys from the NFLPA have repeatedly shown that more than 90% of players prefer grass, citing it as safer, softer, and better for career longevity.

MetLife has carried a reputation for being a dangerous playing surface dating back to 2020, even after the turf was replaced in 2023. Despite this, Woody Johnson and John Mara have no plans to make any changes anytime soon.

Jets and Giants have no plans to change the MetLife Stadium turf

League injury data, however, reportedly tells a different story than its reputation, per Russini. In 2024, MetLife apparently ranked ninth-best in lower-extremity injuries, and visiting teams actually fared the safest of any NFL stadium. That's according to the NFL itself.

However, both players and fans alike have been vocally critical of the playing surface for years now, and there is a litany of non-contact injuries to cite as evidence that it's unsafe.

Among those injured include the likes of Nick Bosa, Aaron Rodgers, Sterling Shepard, Kyle Fuller, Jimmy Garoppolo, Raheem Mostert, Wan’Dale Robinson, Solomon Thomas, Jabrill Peppers, Jaelan Phillips, and, most recently, Malik Nabers.

Many of these injuries, particularly knee and lower-extremity injuries, have fueled player complaints and calls for a switch to grass. The NFLPA has repeatedly cited the surface as a top concern, and interim executive director David White reportedly raised the issue directly with Mara following Nabers’ ACL tear.

Despite the high-profile nature of these injuries, the league maintains that MetLife does not fit the “dangerous stadium” label. And thus, neither the league nor the team's owners feels any urgency to make a change.

This stark contrast between player sentiment and league data is evidence of why the turf debate is unlikely to end anytime soon. While fans and players call for a permanent switch to grass, ownership and the league’s numbers suggest there’s little incentive to make the change.

Unfortunately, the turf seems like it's here to stay. Players will continue to point to their knees, while the league points to its supposed data.

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