The new Highmark Stadium welcomed its first NFL preseason action on Saturday as the Buffalo Bills faced the Carolina Panthers. The stadium’s new playing surface features Kentucky Bluegrass grown by Tuckahoe Turf Farms in New Jersey.
While NFL players have overwhelmingly expressed a preference for natural grass over artificial turf, the condition of the new Highmark Stadium field left some Bills players less than impressed, with one player offering a particularly blunt assessment.
New Highmark Stadium Gets Harsh Review From Anonymous Bills Player
The Bills’ new home is officially open following three years of construction, and the franchise celebrated the occasion Saturday by defeating the Carolina Panthers 29-14. However, the team’s transition from artificial turf to natural Kentucky Bluegrass encountered an early problem during its preseason debut.
According to The Athletic’s Tim Graham, one anonymous Bills player did not hold back when discussing the condition of the field at the new Highmark Stadium.
“The field is [expletive] right now,” the player said. “But it’s early,” was the verdict
The condition of the grass became noticeable as early as the opening quarter of Saturday’s preseason game. In one concerning snapshot, quarterback Kyle Allen slid toward the sideline and ripped up a sizable section of the playing surface.
The damage was substantial enough that several players had to help the stadium’s grounds crew during stoppages in play. Four Bills players stepped in to push and stomp the loose divots back into place manually.
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Another anonymous Bills player also offered a mixed assessment of the new playing surface, describing it as “soft, but not in a good way.”
Still, not every Bills member was dissatisfied with the field. Linebacker Dorian Williams gave a more positive assessment of the grass publicly.
“The grass looked good,” Williams said. “It was cool. A couple spots kind of chunked up a little bit, but it’s better than playing on turf.”
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The debate over grass versus artificial turf has remained a major issue throughout the NFL, particularly due to concerns surrounding non-contact injuries. As a result, player surveys have repeatedly shown a strong preference for natural grass to reduce concerns about lower-body injuries.
The NFL Players Association has also spent years urging the league to move toward natural playing surfaces. That broader push helps explain why many players welcomed the Bills’ move to natural grass.
The installation of grass represents a major change for the franchise. The Bills played their home games on artificial turf at the old Highmark Stadium since 1973. However, the field’s rough condition during its first game should be viewed as an early hurdle rather than a final verdict.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.