Each NFL season brings its own drama, excitement and highlight-reel plays. But this year, the biggest storyline might be the wave of injuries happening every week. Key players are being sidelined at an alarming rate, leaving fans frustrated and worried about their teams’ chances for success. From torn ACLs to turf toe, the list of injured stars keeps growing. Football has always been dangerous, but many believe a major culprit behind this season’s spike in injuries is artificial turf.
So far in 2025, some of the league’s biggest names have gone down. Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers tore his ACL, meniscus, and labrum in one devastating play. Tyreek Hill, one of the fastest, most explosive players in the league, suffered a season-ending knee injury that included a torn ACL and damaged ligaments.
Even quarterbacks, who are typically the most protected players on the field, haven’t been spared. Joe Burrow and Brock Purdy are both battling turf toe injuries that have kept them off the field. For fans, it’s frustrating. For players, it’s career-altering.
Many believe the playing surface is at the heart of the debate. Several NFL stadiums rely on turf because it’s easier to maintain and allows for multiple events; not just football. But players argue that turf is less forgiving than natural grass, which offers more “give.”
Turf grips cleats tightly when athletes make hard cuts or are tackled awkwardly. That lack of release can lead to serious injuries. A 2019 study published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine backs up what players are saying. NFL athletes are more likely to suffer lower-body injuries on turf than on grass, especially non-contact injuries to the knees and ankles.
It is not some crazy coincidence that most of the season’s most serious injuries, ACL tears and turf toe are directly tied to the way players’ feet are interacting with the ground. This issue has become so heated that the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) is demanding that all stadiums move to natural grass. Their argument is simple: With billions of dollars flowing through the league, player safety should come first. After all, with no players, there’s no league.
Football will always carry risks, but the current trend is hard to ignore. The stakes are high and the debate is no longer about if turf increases injuries but more so about how long the league can wait before making changes. Because at the end of the day, fans want to see touchdowns and game winning drives, not their favorite players being carted off the field.
Players with Major Injuries in 2025:
- Malik Nabers (WR, New York Giants)
Nabers suffered a torn ACL in Week 4 against the Chargers and is out for the rest of the season. Along with the ACL, he had other related issues (meniscus, partly torn labrum, and turf toe) in that same injury. - Tyreek Hill (WR, Miami Dolphins)
Hill sustained a dislocated knee, torn ACL, and damage to other ligaments during a game vs. the Jets. That injury is season-ending. - Antonio Gibson (RB, New England Patriots)
Gibson also tore his ACL this season and will miss the rest of the year. He got injured returning a kickoff. - Joe Burrow (QB, Cincinnati Bengals)
Burrow is sidelined with a turf toe injury. While not season-ending, it’s serious enough to put him on injured reserve and keep him out of playing. - Brock Purdy (QB, San Francisco 49ers)
Purdy has been dealing with a “turf toe” injury as well. He’s missed multiple games and this injury has been aggravated over the season
