It would take quite some moment to spoil Jaxson Dart's NFL debut, especially after the New York Giants raced out to an early halftime lead over the unbeaten Los Angeles Chargers, but such a moment came to pass when the Giants saw star wide receiver Malik Nabers suffer a scary injury.
Nabers was carted off the field with a knee injury after trying to go up for a Dart deep ball and coming down awkwardly. Unsurprisingly, fans took this as yet another chance to curse the existence of the turf field at MetLife Stadium that has injured Giants, Jets, and visitors alike.
The turf has been an object of much irritation and downright vitriol from both Giants and Jets fans alike, and losing Nabers for any extended period of time might be the final straw that turns fans into such powder kegs that they are unable to contain their hatred any longer.
I blame the Metlife turf. Every time
— Keith McPherson (@Keith_McPherson) September 28, 2025
Giants fans blame MetLife Stadium turf after Malik Nabers injury
Nick Bosa, Aaron Rodgers, Jimmy Garoppolo, and Jaelan Phillips are just a few of the many names who have suffered serious non-contact injuries while playing on the MetLife turf. Nabers may be added to that list if the injury was as bad as it looked.
That MetLife turf collects the souls of some of the greatest athletes we’ve ever witnessed on a football field
— Kee🗽🇵🇷 (@Kee_Bully19) September 28, 2025
One has to wonder if, at some point, the propensity for injuries on this playing surface will force Roger Goodell to step in, overrule the Johnson and Mara families, and make them put in a more natural playing surface.
At this point, the NFL has to step in and force the Maras and Johnsons to replace the turf at MetLife. This is getting ridiculous
— Conor Sheeran (@conor__sheeran) September 28, 2025
Despite the fact that players overwhelmingly prefer to play on grass and New York being an outdoor stadium that isn't forced to play on turf like many closed-roof stadiums in the league, the main reason the Giants and Jets keep this turf the way it is has to be penny-pinching and saving money.
MetLife Stadium turf. An absolute disgrace that the Giants/Jet/League do nothing about it. How many dudes need no-contact injuries before they do something?
— Mason Prince (@MasonPrinceTV) September 28, 2025
While the severity of Nabers' injury is not confirmed just yet, and there is a good chance that Giants fans are working themselves up into a frenzy for a relatively minor ailment, that doesn't change the main point of the argument. This field is going to get more players hurt after this week, and the fact that it continues to be a problem after changing the surface in the past is very concerning.
And just like that. The MetLife turf claims another knee. It’s truly pathetic and embarrassing that they refuse to get rid of the artificial turf. So many Giants players have had their careers ruined because of it.
— Desmond (@DesmondNovack) September 28, 2025
All fans can do now is hope that Nabers' injury is not that bad, as a non-contact knee injury would take almost all of the sting out of the Giants' offense.