Houston Texans kill the grass at NRG Stadium, switch to artificial turf
An official stands on the field during the first half of a game between the Houston Texans and the Kansas City Chiefs at NRG Stadium on Sept. 13.
The Houston Texans are giving up on natural grass at NRG Stadium.
General Manager Rick Smith announced Friday the organization would be making the switch to artificial turf for the rest of the season after the grass’ poor performance during the preseason and the Texans’ opener last week against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs’ complaint about the field following the game proved to be the final straw.
“Our players have always enjoyed playing on natural grass here,” Smith said. “But it’s our responsibility at the club level, as well as the league level, to protect them from risk.”
Smith said that historically the field’s injury rate has been lower than other grass fields around the league, but that has not been the case this year.
Last year, then-rookie Jadeveon Clowney had to have arthroscopic knee surgery after suffering an injury during his first half on the field in Week 1. Clowney told one of his teammates he stepped in a hole on the field.
“He told me on the field when it happened. He was just like, ‘Bro, I just jumped, came down and hit one of the holes on the field,’ ” safety D.J. Swearinger said at the time. “There are a few holes in the grass, so he said he thought he stepped on one of those holes and got hurt.”
Texans Coach Bill O’Brien denied the turf had anything to do with Clowney’s injury.
In 2012, former punter Brett Hartmann sued SMG, the company that operates the stadium, blaming them for “unsafe turf” that caused his career-ending injury.
Former Patriots and Broncos wide receiver Wes Welker tore his anterior cruciate ligament and medial collateral ligament on Houston’s field in 2009.
“Historically speaking, the perception hasn’t been the reality,” Smith said. “As it relates to the field this year, and last week in particular, it was a little bit more uneven than normal and a little bit of discoloration.”
Now, the Texans’ reality will include a switch to an artificial surface before their next home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sept. 27.
Follow Matt Wilhalme on Twitter @mattwilhalme
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