A new update on the Bengals’ turf! This fall, the Cincinnati Bengals got a new playing surface at Paycor Stadium. But is it artificial turf?

Well, yes, this summer, the Bengals replaced their synthetic turf (slit-film turf) with nearly $1 million artificial turf. Hamilton County Commissioners approved this upgrade as part of a larger improvement plan. After the approval last winter, Paycor Stadium Managing Director Steve Johnson acknowledged the approval, saying, “Hamilton County and the Bengals are committed to providing a top-level playing surface for NFL games, and this step confirms that commitment. The field will be installed in time for the entire 2024 NFL season.” But the question is why did they change?

Well, Joe Burrow‘s team explained that the change was made to improve player safety and performance based on data. The new turf, called Field Turf, is a monofilament product, aligning with NFL recommendations for optimal performance and safety. With this upgrade, Burrow’s squad became “the eighth NFL team to trust FieldTurf, a best-in-class provider, for their home field.” That means, besides the Bengals, the Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, New York Giants, and Seattle Seahawks, also have FieldTurfs in their respective stadiums.

In general, Field Turf is actually a leading brand in artificial turf and has been used by more than 25,000 installations worldwide. This is evident from the fact that even besides the NFL, over 1,500 NCAA programs, such as Michigan and Notre Dame, also trust it. Not only that! Being a part of Tarkett Sports, it offers various surfaces for sports and residential use, from turf to running tracks and indoor courts.

But what about the injuries? Talking about the same, Dr. Kremchek discussed how non-contact lower-body injuries happen, comparing natural grass and artificial turf during a WCPO interview.

Which field type is more prone to injuries?

An orthopedic surgeon with decades of experience, Dr. Timothy Kremchek, shared his insights about players’ preferences and injury risks. According to him, athletes from high school to the pros overwhelmingly prefer playing on natural grass. He explained that non-contact injuries, such as ACL tears and ankle injuries, happen when a player’s foot gets stuck on artificial turf or even gym floors.

The orthopedic surgeon further added, “….your body twists and all the weight and all the force goes all the way up from your foot all the way up to your ankle, knee and in some cases your hip and lower back so anytime that you’ve got something that stops you from twisting and turning it can be a devastating injury.” Well, the doctor might be right, as the league has already seen last year’s Aaron Rodgers incident. Even scientific studies suggest a higher risk of such injuries on synthetic surfaces.

So, all in all, slit-film surfaces can be a bit dangerous, leading to about 2 or 3 more injuries per year than natural grass. Ankles and Achilles tendons are especially at risk while playing on such synthetic surfaces.

Also, do check out our latest Think Tank exclusive interview with Doug Sanders. It’s packed with insights on the current NFL season, college football, NIL, and much more.