NFL Players Favor Grass as League Sets Surface Standards

The NFL Players Association says 92 percent of members favor natural grass. Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen said he has gotten numerous burns on his legs from artificial turf, to the point he cannot sleep at night because it is bubbling over. He said if he could snap his fingers and make every field grass, that is what he would do. Sixteen of the NFL's 30 facilities will use grass this season. The league and union jointly released standardized surface requirements each facility must meet by 2028, including impact, traction and resurfacing rules. Nick Bosa called temporary World Cup grass conversions a little bizarre. Jonathan Taylor posted that natural grass is not out of reach and prioritizing players should not be either. NFL field surfaces director Nick Pappas said the goal is to take the emotions out of the material makeup and that composition should be secondary to how the field performs. The NFL cites its studies showing no significant injury-rate difference between turf and grass over the past three seasons. Last season's lower-extremity injury rate was half the 2018-22 average. Buffalo installed heating coils, grow lights and ventilation yet resodded early; Pappas, who inspected the field, said the grass pulled apart more than preferred. Outlets differ on World Cup figures, with AP citing seven of 11 facilities. No outlet disputes the 92 percent figure, Allen's account or the 2028 standards. Manufacturers must now submit products for testing and athlete review before certification.