Tonight, the Houston Texans will be tasked with their second primetime game of the season, visiting the New York Jets on Thursday Night Football.
Despite the festivities associated with playing on Halloween Night, the scariest part about this game for the Texans might be the stadium itself that they’re playing in.
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MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is the home of two NFL franchises: the New York Giants and the New York Jets. Breaking ground in 2007 and officially opening in 2010, the stadium boasts the league’s largest seating capacity at 82,500.
Even with a status as one of the NFL’s premiere venues, the stadium has also developed a negative reputation as an infamous site for football injuries.
According to a report by NBC News from last year, a widely accepted explanation for the reputation is the use of artificial turf instead of natural grass. Ahead of the 2023 season, the stadium changed its playing surface to FieldTurf Core, a modern turf fiber intended to reduce injuries.
Here’s some of some notable injuries at MetLife Stadium in recent years (verified with the help of a post from Reddit):
C.J. Stroud (2023): Concussion
C.J. Stroud’s rookie campaign in 2023 had plenty of highlights, as the second-overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft led the Texans to their first postseason berth in four years took home the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Perhaps the darkest moment in that campaign came in Week 14, when the back of Stroud’s head was slammed into the artificial turf causing a serious concussion. Stroud would be sidelined for the next two games.
READ MORE: Texans rookie C.J. Stroud in NFL concussion protocol: ‘He’s the light of our team’
Aaron Rodgers (2023): Torn Achilles
In perhaps the most infamous injury in the Jets’ team history, quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a torn Achilles on just his fourth offensive snap of the season. He would miss the rest of the 2023 campaign.
Kyle Fuller (2022): ACL tear
In the first week of the 2022 NFL season, Baltimore Ravens cornerback Kyle Fuller suffered a torn ACL on the MetLife turf in a game against the Jets.
Five Giants players (2022): ACL tears
In 2022, five different players on the Giants suffered ACL tears or partial tears throughout the course of the season. These included cornerback Aaron Robinson, wide receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, wide receiver Sterling Shepard, guard Marcus McKethan and linebacker Darrian Beavers.
Five Giants players (2021): ACL tears
In 2021, five different Giants’ players also suffered ACL tears. These were linebacker Blake Martinez, safety Jabrill Peppers, cornerback Rodarius Williams, linebacker T.J. Brunson and tackle Matt Peart. Two other players also had different major injuries. Tight end Levine Toilolo suffered a torn Achilles, and center Jonotthan Harrison suffered a nondescriptive Achilles injury that landed him on injured reserve.
Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas (2020): ACL tears
In what was a disastrous week for the San Francisco 49ers, edge rushers Nick Bosa and Solomon Thomas both suffered torn ACLs on the MetLife turf in a Week 2 game against the Jets.