Concerns over turf and injuries hovered over the NFL last season. The Cincinnati Bengals home turf could put the team in a disadvantageous position. By using a surface considered unsafe by the NFL Players Association.

Some of the pregame talk surrounding last week’s Super Bowl 58 was about turf. After the San Francisco 49ers expressed frustration over the turf at their super bowl practice field. The 49ers protested that the turf was softer than they would’ve preferred. San Francisco practiced on grass that was laid over the University of Nevada Las Vegas’s artificial turf practice field. Practicing on natural grass was important for both teams Super Bowl prep. Since last Sunday’s game was on natural grass at the Las Vegas Raiders home Allegiant Stadium. A stadium that has a grass field the Raiders play on that can be rolled out of the indoor facility to grow.

The practice turf issues may’ve had an impact on the 49er’s performance. Though exclusively blaming the practice turf for the 49ers Super Bowl loss would be misguided. After all, the 49ers led for much of the game. Ultimately letting their first half lead collapse in the second. It could be argued that the 49ers lost through mismanaging their overtime strategy.

Injuries significantly affected the 49ers as the big game went on. With several players leaving the game with injuries. That’s where the practice turf drama might have had an impact. The practice field frustrations add to something the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) is campaigning for. Last year, the NFLPA argued that all NFL stadiums should use natural grass, hoping it would decrease injuries. Since players contend that artificial turf puts an added and unnecessary strain on players joints. NFLPA executive director Lloyd Howell said last week that 92% of NFL players asked favor natural grass to artificial turf.

The NFLPA’s turf concerns gained more resonance nationally. After New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers suffered a season-ending injury. In the opening drive of the Jets home opener last September. Disrupting the hopes for a Jets team many had higher than usual expectations for. Rodgers became one of several quarterbacks to be sidelined by injuries last season. Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was on that list. Burrow’s pre and regular season injuries affected the Bengals contending hopes last season.

Many stadiums in the NFL use artificial turf. Including the Jets home Met Life Stadium and the Bengals home Paycor Stadium. Last season, the Bengals were among three NFL teams using slit film artificial turf. The other teams were the Indianapolis Colts and Minnesota Vikings. Of the three teams, the Bengals are the only ones playing in an outdoor stadium.

The Vikings and Colts have already announced plans to replace the slit film turf with an alternative surface. Meanwhile, Paycor Stadium is undergoing off-season renovations. The most visible change at the moment is club-level seats being replaced. Changing Paycor Stadium’s turf does not appear to be among the changes coming. In the stadium’s early years, Paycor Stadium (then Paul Brown Stadium) had natural grass. From the stadium’s opening in 2000 until artificial turf was installed in 2004.

Several dynamics affect which playing surfaces are used in NFL stadiums. Many stadiums, including Paycor Stadium are publicly owned. The desire to keep maintenance costs low are a reason why many of those stadiums use artificial turf. Along with the desire to host events like concerts, which could put a strain on natural grass surfaces. The 2026 FIFA World Cup could also affect NFL stadiums use of artificial turf. The world cup will cause NFL stadiums hosting matches to use a natural grass field. Since FIFA mandates using natural grass for world cup matches.

While the Bengals front office disputed the concerns over Paycor Stadium’s turf last year. The team’s injury issues last season could give the Bengals reason to change their turf. While Joe Burrow’s various injuries have not occurred on Paycor Stadium’s turf. One wonders if that turf may have hampered his and other injured players ability to recover more effectively. Why would the Bengals take the risk with their players, including their franchise quarterback. By keeping a surface that other teams are swapping out and the NFLPA is crying foul over. Especially after missing the playoffs while Burrow recovers from a season-ending injury.