Why is there a turf vs. grass debate?
According to data released by the NFL in November, non-contact injury rates were essentially the same regardless of playing surface in 2021. On turf fields, injuries occurred 0.42 times per 1,000 plays and 0.41 times per 1,000 plays on natural surfaces. That gap narrowed in recent years; as recently as 2019, players were injured 0.48 times per 1,000 plays on turf and 0.36 times per 1,000 plays on grass.