Overview
- On Wednesday, Aug. 26, Bills quarterback Josh Allen told reporters he has suffered painful burns on artificial turf that sometimes “bubble over” and keep him from sleeping and said he would prefer every NFL field be natural grass.
- Allen praised the Buffalo Bills’ new Highmark Stadium grass as a relief from practicing on turf and said he still expects to play some road games on turf this season.
- Several stadiums installed temporary natural grass for the 2026 World Cup but most teams that used turf before the tournament have since reinstalled synthetic surfaces.
- About half the league uses artificial turf because owners and stadium operators cite lower maintenance costs and the ability to host concerts and other events on turf surfaces.
- There is no leaguewide policy change yet, but Allen’s comments add momentum to a growing player-led push on field safety that could prompt further NFL study and renewed pressure on teams to weigh the trade-offs between revenue and player health.