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Morning Edition

September 30, 2025

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Why do many NFL teams still play on turf? The answer is complicated. But after another high-profile injury, debate around the playing surface has picked up yet again.

— David Rumsey [[link removed]], Eric Fisher [[link removed]], and Alex Schiffer [[link removed]]

Malik Nabers’s Torn ACL Rekindles NFL’s Grass vs. Turf Debate [[link removed]]

Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Giants star second-year receiver Malik Nabers will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL, which has reignited the longstanding debate over artificial vs. natural grass playing surfaces [[link removed]] in the NFL.

On Monday, an MRI confirmed Nabers tore his ACL on Sunday during New York’s first win of the season, a 21–18 victory over the previously undefeated Chargers at MetLife Stadium, which is one of 15 NFL stadiums (out of 30) that have artificial turf. Nabers was battling Los Angeles cornerback Cam Hart for a contested catch [[link removed]] in the second quarter when he injured his knee, but there was no significant contact or a huge hit that caused the injury.

On Sunday evening, former Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. posted a message to X/Twitter asking the NFL to move away from artificial surfaces, particularly criticizing MetLife Stadium’s field, where he played the first five seasons of his career (2014–18). The two-time All-Pro noted the NFL takes “all the precautions in the world” relating to player health and safety, and he called for the league to “get rid of the turf.”

Beckham also referred to the New Jersey stadium as “DeathLife,” saying it had “taken too many talented players away from the game.” MetLife Stadium is also where Aaron Rodgers tore his Achilles while making his Jets debut in 2023, and where several other players have sustained non-contact season-ending injuries. Beckham tore his ACL in 2020 while playing for the Browns, during a game against the Bengals in Cincinnati on artificial turf.

Soccer Status

The NFL’s turf wars figure to heat up next summer, when several venues around the league will temporarily install natural grass to host FIFA men’s World Cup matches, and then reinstall their artificial surfaces ahead of the 2026 NFL season.

This summer, many of those same stadiums installed grass for the FIFA Club World Cup [[link removed]], only to return to turf for this NFL season.

Using an artificial playing surface is largely seen as a cost-saving move, especially for NFL venues that also have concerts and other non-sporting events on a regular basis. In 2023, Broncos owners famously paid $400,000 to install a new grass field just for their season finale.

Last year, Falcons owner Arthur Blank told [[link removed]] Front Office Sports that the league spends “a tremendous amount of time and money to make sure the fields—whether they be natural grass or synthetic” are safe. In February, now-former NFL Players Association executive director Lloyd Howell told [[link removed]] FOS the turf vs. grass debate was “never going to disappear.”

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From Dublin to London: Vikings on NFL’s First Multi-Country Road Trip [[link removed]]

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

After the Steelers beat the Vikings 24–21 on Sunday in the first NFL game in Dublin [[link removed]], Minnesota had a much shorter postgame flight than Pittsburgh.

That’s because the Vikings are about to become the league’s first team to play consecutive games in two different countries outside of the U.S. While the Steelers headed home for a bye week Sunday evening, the Vikings made the short trip over to England (about a 90-minute flight) to spend the week getting ready for the next game Sunday against the Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

Minnesota has played twice recently at the Premier League venue purpose-built to also host NFL games, in 2022 and 2024. The franchise, owned by the Wilf family, sought out the opportunity to make league history this season with the multi-country road trip, which was revealed during the league’s schedule release in May. The Jaguars have previously played consecutive games in London [[link removed]], but the Vikings are making another first.

The United Kingdom is one of two territories (alongside Canada) that the Vikings have rights to as part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program [[link removed]], which began in 2022. In total, nine NFL franchises have marketing rights in the U.K.

Expanding Borders

NFL teams playing multiple games abroad in the same season could become the norm in the not-too-distant future, as the league continues to expand its international presence.

This season, a record seven games are being played outside the U.S. The NFL currently can schedule up to eight international contests per season, and owners and commissioner Roger Goodell have openly discussed growing that number to 16 [[link removed]].

Next season, the NFL will make its debut in Australia and Rio de Janeiro, after two games in São Paulo this year and last season. In November, the Commanders and Dolphins will play the league’s first game in Spain.

A’s Unveil Sacramento Jerseys As Vegas Development Advances [[link removed]]

Marnell Companies

Despite a disappointing season on numerous fronts, the A’s are looking to establish deeper roots in both their interim home and their future one.

As the club played its final 2025 game Sunday, it also unveiled a new alternate jersey for 2026 [[link removed]], reading “Sacramento” on the front. The gold jersey will be used next year for every Saturday home game in a promotion called “Sacramento Saturdays,” and it represents a sizable departure for the club as it will play the second of three planned seasons at Sutter Health Park, a minor league facility.

After leaving Oakland, the A’s deviated from sports industry norms and ended the use of any geographic signifier. Despite the alternate jersey, there is still no such designation, but it’s a rather notable step.

“The new ‘Sacramento’ jersey is our way of recognizing the support and saying thank you to the fans, business, and community leaders who helped bring Major League Baseball to town,” said A’s president Marc Badain.

The shift comes as the team this year repeated its status as the lowest attendance draw in MLB [[link removed]], averaging just 9,487 per game, and reaching 10,000 in a home game just twice after the All-Star break.

Mixed Use in Sin City

Plans for a new ballpark in Las Vegas [[link removed]], meanwhile, are gaining a further level of ambition as Bally’s Corp., the team’s partner in the greater ballpark development, unveiled its plan Monday for Bally’s Las Vegas, an “entertainment resort destination.” In addition to the ballpark itself, the 35-acre, mixed-use development will include two luxury hotel towers with a total of 3,000 rooms, a 2,500-seat entertainment venue, and more than 500,000 square feet of retail, dining, and other entertainment space stretched across four levels.

The entire effort is located along the famed Las Vegas Strip, and will repurpose the space cleared after last year’s demolition of the Tropicana Las Vegas resort [[link removed]]. A cost estimate for the surrounding Bally’s development has not been disclosed, though the work will be completed in phases. The ballpark itself now will cost more than $2 billion.

The concept, in a broad sense, is similar to the mixed-use developments involving other MLB clubs such as the Braves, Rangers, and Cardinals, but not surprisingly, leans heavily in to Las Vegas culture.

“Bally’s Las Vegas represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine the heart of the Strip,” said Bally’s chair Soo Kim. “We are not just building an integrated resort. We are creating a landmark destination that unites sports, entertainment, dining, and hospitality on a scale only Las Vegas can deliver.”

The A’s finished the 2025 season with a 76–86 record, fourth in the American League West division. The mark was a seven-game improvement from 2024, but after reaching a franchise-record payroll of $113.8 million—in part to resolve growing concerns about the club’s use of revenue-sharing funds [[link removed]]—the performance was still a letdown.

Kawhi Leonard: ‘Not Accurate’ That I Had a No-Show Job With Aspiration [[link removed]]

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Kawhi Leonard has broken his silence about Aspiration.

The Clippers held media day on Monday, marking the first public comments the organization has made since Pablo Torre reported this month on Leonard’s alleged [[link removed]] “no-show job” with the failed environmental start-up to circumvent the NBA’s salary cap.

Both Leonard and president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank said they’ve done nothing wrong and welcome the NBA’s investigation into the matter.

“ The NBA is going to do their job [[link removed]],” Leonard told reporters. “None of us did no wrongdoing. That’s it. We invite the investigations. It’s not going to be a distraction for me or my team.”

Leonard is at the center of the investigation that implicates a variety of people from his inner circle including his uncle Dennis Robertson, his agent Mitch Frankel, and Clippers owners Steve Ballmer and Dennis Wong. Leonard allegedly had a four-year deal with Aspiration that totaled $48 million in compensation.

While speaking with reporters, Leonard was asked about his contract with Aspiration and if he received money for no work with the company.

“ I understand the full contract and the services [[link removed]] I had to do,” Leonard said. “I don’t deal with conspiracies or the clickbait analyst or journalism that’s going on.”

Leonard was asked to clarify whether he had a no-show contract with the company.

“ I don’t think it’s accurate [[link removed]],” he said. “This is old. This is all new to you guys. The company went bankrupt a while ago so we knew this was going to happen.”

He also said he did not receive the money he was supposed to from the deal or the bankruptcy filing, but couldn’t recall the exact amount.

Frank was asked whether Robertson asked the Clippers for improper benefits during Leonard’s 2019 free agency; Robertson reportedly requested this of multiple teams.

“Dennis knows the rules,” Frank said. “Kawhi knows the rules. Mitch Frankel knows the rules and we know the rules.”

A reporter followed up and asked Frank whether that is a yes or no to Robertson asking for illegal benefits in return for Leonard signing with the team.

“ Yes, we all know the rules [[link removed]],” Frank responded.

The NBA’s investigation into the Clippers and Aspiration isn’t expected to wrap up until after the All-Star Game in February 2026, which will be hosted at the Intuit Dome, the team’s home arena.

“ We are glad there’s an investigation [[link removed]], and we welcome it,” Frank said. “We’re eager for the truth to come out. The assumptions and conclusions that have been made are disappointing and upsetting. We expect the investigation to show that these allegations are wrong.”

Conversation Starters The College Football Playoff title game will head to New Orleans in 2028. Take a look [[link removed]] at the next five host cities. Angel City FC boasts more than 100 minority owners, including Natalie Portman and Chris Paul. In 2024, Disney CEO Bob Iger and Willow Bay became controlling owners. Check out the full list [[link removed]]. Ryder Cup tickets cost $750, but some luxury seats cost even more. See what you would have received for $23,000 [[link removed]]. Editors’ Picks NFL Sued for $100M Over Efforts to ‘Silence’ Brother of Texans Owner [[link removed]]by Ben Horney [[link removed]]Robert Cary McNair Jr. says the NFL helped remove him from roles. Chris Haynes, Marcus Thompson Join Amazon Prime NBA Team [[link removed]]by Ryan Glasspiegel [[link removed]]Haynes is an NBA insider, while Thompson is a reporter and columnist. Saudis, Silver Lake, Jared Kushner Take EA Private in $55B Deal [[link removed]]by Ben Horney [[link removed]]Electronic Arts makes “Madden,” “EA Sports College Football,” and more. Question of the Day

Should the NFL require all stadiums to use natural grass instead of artificial turf?

YES [[link removed]] NO [[link removed]]

Monday’s result: 78% of respondents think a low-budget team has a real shot at winning the World Series.

Advertise [[link removed]] Awards [[link removed]] Learning [[link removed]] Events [[link removed]] Video [[link removed]] Show [[link removed]] Written by David Rumsey [[link removed]], Eric Fisher [[link removed]], Alex Schiffer [[link removed]] Edited by Matthew Tabeek [[link removed]], Or Moyal [[link removed]], Catherine Chen [[link removed]]

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