In recent years, the NFLPA and players have made a push for teams to switch to natural grass fields, with the idea that injuries are less common than on artificial turf surfaces.
The league has responded to that desire by stating that studies show no difference in injury rates between the two, but that hasn’t stopped the lobbying for natural grass fields.
As for the Titans — a team that has been riddled with injuries in recent years despite using a natural grass field — they are going in the opposite direction of the players’ wishes, with the team switching to artificial turf in 2023.
“There is nothing more important than the health and safety of our players,” head coach Mike Vrabel said. “We’ve had a lot of issues (with the grass at Nissan Stadium) after a certain part of the season. It’s hard to grow grass. It gets slick. We put new turf down, we try and put new sod down and it’s slick, you see guys slipping. Those are real things that I’ve witnessed over my time here. Our grass surface is not on the level of some of the other grass surfaces (across the NFL). At the beginning of the year, summer, training camp, early season, I can see it being very consistent. But as the season wears on, and the weather changes, there is a noticeable difference in performance of the field.
One player who is unlikely to be a fan of the change is new quarterback and 2023 second-round pick, Will Levis, who has openly advocated for natural grass fields.
As I start my pro football career, I think about the guys who came before me and have championed a safer way to play football. Excited to join the next generation in advocating for teams to play on grass. @pennington and @playerstribune #PenningtonPartnerpic.twitter.com/e58nmgJQaD
— Will Levis (@will_levis) April 30, 2023
That said, it’s not like playing on artificial turf is foreign to Levis, as Kentucky’s home stadium, Kroger Field, utilizes that kind of surface.
