Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Giants Lineman Slams Bills' Field After Injury

Originally posted on FanNation Bills Central
By Jonathan Alfano | Last updated 10/21/23

Injuries on turf fields have been an unfortunate trend in the NFL this season, sparking a plethora of debates over how safe said fields are.

New York Giants offensive lineman Joshua Ezeudu was among the latest to fall victim to that trend. The 2022 third-round pick suffered a toe injury that will likely end his season on the artificial turf of Highmark Stadium in Sunday night's loss to the Buffalo Bills.

In the wake of that injury, Ezeudu criticized the Bills not just for using turf, but the exact kind of turf they use.

"Our turf is better," Ezeudu told NJ.com. "Turf is still turf, but I think our turf is better. There are just different types of turf. Our turf feels like, with its thickness, it actually gives some. Our turf, it feels more like grass. You still know it’s turf, but it’s way more thick [than the Bills’ surface]. It feels full [at MetLife Stadium]."

According to ESPN, the exact type of turf the Bills use is called A-Turf Titan 50, and they are the only team in the league to use it. Meanwhile, the turf the Giants use at MetLife Stadium is known as FieldTurf Core System. While no other team, save for the New York Jets who play at the same venue, use that exact type, several use similar FieldTurf materials.

While they play on artificial turf, the Bills have been vocal about their support for grass fields. After Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the season opener against Buffalo (at MetLife Stadium no less), Bills coaches and players backed the NFLPA's call for universal grass fields.

“I feel like overall that’s what the players want,” coach Sean McDermott said last month. “I get the gist that’s what they want. At the end of the day I get it. But I appreciate the NFL’s attention to making the fields as safe as possible.”

Meanwhile, MetLife Stadium has become notorious for the amount of injuries that have occurred on its turf. Rodgers' injury is the latest and most notable one, but others, such as San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa in 2020, have suffered major injuries on that field.

At the end of the day, though, Ezeudu holds no ill will towards the Bills for their choice of turf.

"Just a freak accident," Ezeudu said. "My toe, I guess, just got stuck in the turf as I planted my feet. Whatever happens, it was out of my control. I couldn’t control this, because I know I take care of my body. I still feel great. This is something that just happened that I couldn’t control. That’s really just all it is."

This article first appeared on FanNation Bills Central and was syndicated with permission.

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