“I’m sick of this!” Packers OT David Bakhtiari BLAMES NFL for Aaron Rodgers’ injury claiming they could get rid of the ‘artificial turf’ for the Soccer World Cup but not for football players

Bakhtiari feels the franchises are more concerned about the upcoming soccer World Cup.

“I’m sick of this!” Packers OT David Bakhtiari BLAMES NFL for Aaron Rodgers’ injury claiming they could get rid of the ‘artificial turf’ for the Soccer World Cup but not for football players

David Bakhtiari blamed the artificial turf for Aaron Rodgers' injury against the Bills (Image via IMAGO)

Green Bay Packers offensive lineman David Bakhtiari did not mince his words after seeing his former quarterback Aaron Rodgers carted off early against the Buffalo Bills yesterday. The day began with massive anticipation for the veteran quarterback’s debut but ended on a sour note.

Rodgers left Green Bay after playing 18 seasons and became a Jet in the offseason. Since then, Gang Green fans have been eagerly waiting for the Super Bowl winner’s first game. Apart from a tinge of somberness in the air owing to 9/11, there was a buzz around.

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Prior to the kickoff, Aaron Rodgers ran onto the field with the American flag. As the National Anthem plays in the background, the crowd can be heard cheering for the legendary signal caller. But they weren’t ready for what would transpire next.

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In the first proper Jets drive, 39-year-old Rodgers was tackled by Bills defensive end Leonard Floyd. He immediately went down, clutching his leg. After a brief pause, he limped off to the sidelines and was then carted away for further examination.

Social media was flooded with various tweets. Some wished for the quarterback’s quick recovery, and a few wanted Tom Brady to come back out of retirement. However, several complained about the MetLife stadium’s artificial turf. Rodgers’ former teammate David Bakhtiari was one of the first to point it out just after the incident. He claimed that franchises are more concerned about the upcoming soccer World Cup.

Why? Because the USA is one of the hosts of the 2026 FIFA WC. For that reason, the NFL stadiums will be installing grass turf. Bakhtiari said they continue to get overlooked despite the overwhelming number of injuries that occur on the artificial turfs.

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Is Aaron Rodgers another victim of the NFL stadium’s artificial turf?

“I’m sick of this!” Packers OT David Bakhtiari BLAMES NFL for Aaron Rodgers’ injury claiming they could get rid of the ‘artificial turf’ for the Soccer World Cup but not for football players
MetLife Stadium (Image via FOX)

The call for natural grass in stadiums is not new. Since the days of AstroTurf, artificial surfaces have replaced the original pitches. Its demand gained popularity when the Eagles first installed it on their ground. Slowly, other teams decided to follow suit. Experts believe that it makes the game faster because it creates less friction. However, it has also increased the number of casualties on matchday.

Jets MetLife is frequently in the headlines for new injuries to players. In 2020, several 49ers players fell prey when they faced the Jets. Officials heeded the criticism and installed new turf in the offseason. However, it’s not natural grass; rather, the latest iteration of artificial turf is called the Field Turf Core System. Whether this is the reason Rodgers got injured is not clear. The Giants played 24 hours earlier; there weren’t any notable injuries.

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