MetLife Stadium’s long and sordid history with significant player injuries added another unfortunate chapter on Sunday.
In his team’s 21-18 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, New York Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers suffered what initial reports indicate is believed to be a torn anterior cruciate ligament, which would sideline him for the remainder of the season.
MetLife Stadium’s turf has been the subject of widespread ridicule for years amid several notable injuries to marquee players, with San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan speaking out about it in 2020 after defensive linemen Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas each suffered a torn ACL in the same game at the venue.
In 2023, however, a multi-layered, dual-polymer monofilament fiber called the FieldTurf CORE system was installed to provide better stability.
‘Installation of the new FieldTurf CORE system reinforces the commitment we have to providing the best playing surface for our teams,’ president and CEO of MetLife Stadium Ron VanDeVeen said in a 2023 statement. ‘The research that FieldTurf has put into the heavyweight infill design for this new field system will equip MetLife Stadium with one of the premier surfaces in the league.’
But even since then, the stadium has seen a number of big names go down with injuries that sidelined them for some time. Here are some of the more notable cases in recent years:
- New York Giants WR Malik Nabers: Potentially torn ACL, 2025
- Miami Dolphins outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips: Torn Achilles, 2023
- New York Jets QB Aaron Rodgers: Torn Achilles, 2023
- Baltimore Ravens CB Kyle Fuller: Torn ACL, 2022
- Giants WR Sterling Shepard: Torn ACL, 2022
- Giants WR Wan’Dale Robinson: Torn ACL, 2022
- San Francisco 49ers DE Nick Bosa: Torn ACL, 2020
- 49ers DL Solomon Thomas: Torn ACL, 2020