News Summary

• The NFL Players Association wants the league to switch all its fields to natural grass, calling it the easiest decision the NFL can make to protect players..
• (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)Which playing surface is safer for athletes: natural grass or artificial turf?The question is important not just in football, but also for soccer, recreational sports and high school and college athletics — anywhere athletes make sudden shifts in direction that can twist joints and tear ligaments..
• That type of study is good, but will never be able to keep up with innovation, said Dr. Calvin Hwang, a team doctor for Stanford’s football players and the San Jose Earthquakes soccer team.“There’s always evolving technology, both with grass, but especially with artificial turf,” Hwang said..
• The authors noted that studies reporting a higher rate of injury on grass received financial support from the artificial turf industry.Similar findings were reported in a separate study that analyzed 4,801 NFL foot and leg injuries during 2012-2016 regular season games..
• The NFL says some artificial turf fields are safer than some grass fields and wants to reduce injuries on all surfaces..
• When Aaron Rodgers went down with an injury just a few plays into his first season with the New York Jets, it reignited calls from NFL players to have all the stadiums in which they play use natural grass fields for their safety..