Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles during the first Monday Night Football game of the 2023 NFL Season.
While players and pundits across the league expressed concern for Rodgers, they also criticized the field conditions.
Over the past several years, there has been growing suspicion that turf fields have caused similar injuries.
Many players have begged and pleaded for a leaguewide shift to natural grass, given a lesser chance for injury.
It appears that their pleas have been heard, at least by one person.
According to Adam Schefter, Lloyd Howell, the NFLPA Executive Director, has recently made a statement about field conditions.
NFLPA’s new executive director, Lloyd Howell, said all NFL stadiums need to have natural grass. pic.twitter.com/7gMvv3erKJ
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 13, 2023
He began this statement by saying “Moving all stadium fields to high-quality natural grass surfaces is the easiest decision the NFL can make.
Howell mentioned that “players overwhelmingly prefer it and the data is clear that grass is simply safer than artificial turf.”
These statements are exactly what players have clamored for lately, especially given the recent amount of ACL and Achilles injuries.
Whether the league responds positively to these comments remains to be seen.
This, at least in the players’ eyes, is a step in the right direction.
Perhaps seeing a player of Rodgers’ caliber go down will spark a change within the minds of the NFL’s upper brass.
The next several weeks could inspire change in the NFL, probably not for the 2023 season, but it could be enacted in 2024.
For now, teams will go about business as usual, hoping that no more of the league’s biggest stars suffer similar injuries.
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