The Patriots head into their big Week 5 matchup on Sunday Night Football against the Bills this weekend, coming off an impressive win over the Panthers, in hopes of maintaining that momentum against their toughest opponent yet on the schedule. And while that should most definitely be their focus, it's hard not to look at what's to come when they face the Jets in Week 17, after another big-name player suffered a brutal season-ending injury on Sunday.
Giants' wide receiver Malik Nabers is the latest player to suffer an ACL tear while playing at MetLife Stadium over the last few years.
Since the 2020 season, eight players have been injured from the stadium's turf, many of whom are notable names in the league, which is something the Patriots might need to worry about before playing the Jets on their home turf near the end of the season.
Notable ACL and Achilles tears suffered on MetLife Stadium's turf since 2020:
— Yahoo Fantasy Sports (@YahooFantasy) September 28, 2025
· Nick Bosa (2020)
· Solomon Thomas (2020)
· Jabrill Peppers (2021)
· Wan'Dale Robinson (2022)
· Sterling Shepard (2022)
· Kyle Fuller (2022)
· Aaron Rodgers (2023)
· Potentially Malik Nabers (2025)
The state of the stadium's turf has been a topic of conversation for many years, and is now heightening as more players suffer season-ending and career-altering injuries while playing there.
It's gotten to the point that players are demanding the Giants (and the Jets) make changes as soon as possible, with veteran receiver Odell Beckham Jr. being the latest to call the teams out after Nabers' injury.
The Patriots have things to worry about while facing the Jets later this season
It might not get the attention it deserves, as many players have spoken out about MetLife's turf previously, but Beckham's comments are going viral since he spoke about Nabers' injury, and it's something the NFL and the New York teams should no longer ignore.
Players may not want to suit up and play at MetLife Stadium at some point if these kinds of injuries continue to occur, as most are noncontact and can easily be attributed to the field conditions.
Respect and u kno I loveeeee the giants , but DeathLife has taken too many talented players away from the game. I kno it’s not ALL the turfs fault but at least maybe it to where we’ve gotten all research done to if TURF has to stay it’s at the HIGHEST of quality possible. At…
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) September 29, 2025
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Regardless of when the Patriots were scheduled to play the Jets, they would be warranted in being concerned about how their players would perform on the field. However, the fact that they don't play at MetLife until Week 17 could be even more concerning, as any player getting injured that late in the year could jeopardize their availability for the 2026 season.
Yet at the same time, perhaps there is a chance that the Giants/Jets ownership will take the concerns seriously and change out the turf before the Patriots have to play there, since that game isn't until December 28. That gives them nearly three months to complete that massive project.
Although that's unlikely, it's something Mike Vrabel and Co. should pay attention to and monitor how other players fare in the weeks leading up to their game.