NFL knowledge exhibits current damage charges identical on grass, synthetic turf

The NFL’s current charge of non-contact accidents to the knee, ankle and foot is roughly the identical on pure and synthetic taking part in surfaces, in line with inner knowledge reviewed Tuesday by ESPN.

The numbers contradict anecdotal observations this season from a large swath of gamers, brokers and coaches who’ve known as for the league to transform all surfaces to grass in response to a collection of high-profile accidents on synthetic turf. However the NFL has no plans to take action, Dallas Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones mentioned Tuesday morning on 105.3 The Fan, citing the present knowledge.

“In no way,” mentioned Jones, whose crew performs in one in every of 16 NFL stadiums with a man-made taking part in floor. “And it is not as a result of we’ve got the floor that we’ve got. Our league stats do not see points with the sort floor that we’ve got versus pure grass. We do not see points. No info bear that out.”

The NFL and NFLPA use a third-party firm often known as IQVIA to compile and analyze knowledge on each damage suffered throughout each season. Their joint Surfaces Committee makes use of the information to check accidents in every of the 30 stadiums the league performs in, paying specific consideration to accidents that happen with out contact and will probably be attributed to the floor itself.

These accidents are labeled as non-contact and to the decrease extremities: knees, ankles and ft. ESPN obtained a chart that plotted these accidents over the previous 4 seasons.

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As lately as 2019, the speed of such accidents had been notably increased on synthetic turf fields relatively than grass. However the distinction between the 2 started narrowing in 2020, and by 2021, the numbers had been virtually the identical. Synthetic surfaces had an incident charge of .042 per 100 in 2021, whereas the incident charge for pure surfaces was .041 per 100.

That ratio “replicated” through the 2022 preseason, in line with Jeff Miller, the NFL’s government vice chairman of communications, public affairs and coverage. Full knowledge for the 2022 might be compiled on the finish of the season.

“The takeaway from all of this knowledge is that the dialogue between artificial surfaces and pure grass surfaces is not actually the argument,” Miller mentioned. “What we’re making an attempt to do is lower accidents on each. As a common matter, taking a look at artificial versus pure does not actually present us the knowledge we have to attempt to drive these damage charges down.”

It’s not completely clear why the speed distinction narrowed, though a part of the reason being that accidents on grass elevated from 2018 to 2021. Miller famous there’s “extra dynamism” within the synthetic turf market, and that stadiums are ordering replacements on common of each two or three years. He additionally mentioned the NFL and NFLPA are working with discipline managers to optimize look after the turf.

The NFL/NFLPA Floor Committee offered its findings to house owners throughout final month’s assembly in New York, however the particulars had not beforehand been publicized. Within the interim, gamers and coaches have been talking out about accidents on synthetic turf.

Most lately, after the Inexperienced Bay Packers misplaced move rusher Rashan Gary to a non-contact ACL damage at Detroit’s Ford Subject, Packers linebacker DeVondre Campbell tweeted: “I believe it is time y’all take among the cash y’all make off us and put money into grass fields for each crew across the league. The turf is actually like concrete it has no give once you plant.”

Beforehand, Los Angeles Rams receiver Cooper Kupp mentioned the distinction between the 2 surfaces is “not even shut.”

After Seattle Seahawks receiver DK Metcalf and Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson each left a sport at SoFi Los Angeles’ Stadium with non-contact knee accidents, Kupp added: “I do know there’s stuff going across the league proper now, there’s some points. Arms down, we needs to be taking part in on grass. Arms down, we needs to be on grass. And that is all I’ll say.”

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll mentioned the problem is one thing “we undoubtedly want to have a look at this actually significantly within the offseason once more.”

“It has been a dialogue earlier than,” Carroll mentioned. “We have to do what’s proper, and we have to do what’s most secure for the gamers, and we have to make these decisions. I might pound on the drum for that.”

ESPN’s Sarah Barshop contributed to this report.