WHEN QUARTERBACK AARON Rodgers suffered a season-ending left Achilles injury on the first drive of his New York Jets career, the yearslong debate over playing surfaces began anew.
Before the severity of Rodgers' injury had been confirmed, calls for natural grass fields rang out across the NFL. The grass vs. turf debate continued to take center stage throughout the 2023 season as star players suffered noncontact injuries.
MetLife Stadium, the site of Rodgers' injury, had received so much criticism in the seasons leading up to his Jets debut that new turf had been installed before the 2023 offseason -- to which Rodgers gave his approval.