Miami Dolphins see benefits in playing on grass over artificial turf

MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins safety Ashtyn Davis was playing for the New York Jets when Jaelan Phillips (Achilles) and Jevon Holland (both knees) sustained injuries in a 2023 game at MetLife Stadium.

Phillips was lost for the season with a non-contact injury on the artificial turf surface.

Holland, who missed four games after his injuries, then called the MetLife playing surface “trash.”

Davis was in the Dolphins locker room this week, before a Dolphins at Jets game, when asked about that game and the playing surface, which has been subject to criticism from some players.

“I actually had a season-ending injury at MetLife my rookie year,” Davis recalled “My cleat got stuck in a turf and I had a torn Lisfranc (foot) injury. So yeah, I definitely prefer grass.”

MetLife Stadium’s field has had a negative reputation among some NFL players.

“When my other friends or other people from around the league would come play us, a lot of people were skeptical about our turf or were weary of our playing surface,” Davis said.

MetLife Stadium turf has players ‘skeptical,’ ‘weary’

In 2023, after Davis’ injury, but before Phillips’ and Holland’s, the Jets and Giants replaced maligned UBU Sports Speed turf with a new FieldTurf Core system, an updated synthetic turf designed to reduce injuries.

But in general, the NFLPA has pushed for more natural grass surfaces to replace artificial surfaces.

On Thursday, Dec. 4, ESPN first reported the NFL and NFL Players Association have agreed to a new model for selecting playing surfaces in stadiums, one that will require teams to choose from an approved set of manufacturers and styles for both natural and synthetic fields.

The league will conduct extensive testing. Every NFL stadium will have to meet new enhanced standards set through lab and field testing by the start of the 2028 season.

NFL, NFLPA come to playing surface assessment agreement

What most players really wants is to play on a grass surface, but some will view this agreement as a step in the right direction.

“I obviously prefer grass,” current Dolphins and former Jets quarterback Zach Wilson said. “I don’t know from a health benefit or like the scientific stuff obviously what they say it helps or not. I think it’s more comfortable to land on, a little more comfortable to play on. But that’s really as far as I know. I mean, I will say I do maybe feel a little more sore after playing on turf for whatever reason.”

Bradley Chubb, Matthew Butler and Zach Sieler are three of the Dolphins’ four NFLPA representatives (as well as Alec Ingold).

“I don’t have a preference, honestly,” Chubb said. “I do find myself a little more sore after turf games, but some turf is better than other turf and stuff like that. But I don’t really have a, I have to play on this cause the time I got hurt (knee) was on grass, so it’s hard to say that it’s only turf that people get hurt on.”

“I haven’t been on the NFLPA board for long, but this has been one of the things that has come up,” Butler said. “All in all, in my humble opinion, I think it’s more of the cleats on the turf. I do prefer grass, but I think it’s more of the cleats on the turf.”

Butler said players must wear the right cleats and cleats that are not worn out.

NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills has said there is no “statistically significant differences” in lower extremity injuries or concussions that can be attributed to the type of playing surface or a specific surface.

Sieler prefers grass.

Zach Sieler says natural grass minimizes impact on body

“I always prefer playing on natural grass,” Sieler said. “The impact, I guess the effect of turf is greatly… There’s a reason you feel so much more sore after playing on turf. Bottom line.”

Is MetLife a concern?

“To me, all turf is less than ideal,” Sieler said.

Sieler said he believes Hard Rock Stadium has ideal grass playing surface.

“How we play, what we put our bodies through, I feel like if there’s a way that we can minimize impact to our bodies to help keep us healthier for the next week, I feel like that’s something you’d want to do,” Sieler said. “I know here we do a great job. I think (Dolphins owner) Stephen Ross and those guys bring in their own their grass. Sod farms. That’s an amazing job. This is my favorite playing field. You still have traction, but as far as impact, your knees don’t feel as bad.”