Arizona Cardinals respond to accusations that turf caused Chiefs’ injuries

The Arizona Cardinals responded to Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid’s accusations of loose turf injuring two players on Sunday.

The Cardinals said the entire field was replaced on Aug. 22, the day after the final home preseason game.

“That’s more than enough time for the Tifway Bermuda 419 hybrid sod to take root, especially in 109 degrees and abundant sunshine,” Cardinals spokesperson Mark Dalton told NBC’s Mike Florio over text message on Tuesday.

Reid cited the turf as part of the injuries to kicker Harrison Butker and rookie defensive back Trent McDuffie.

“It was a little loose,” Reid said Monday. “That’s what happens sometimes when you re-sod … The turf picked up, and I would tell you that did have something to do with it. If it didn’t, I’d tell you that, too. It’s not an excuse by any means. But you all see it when you watch the tape.”

McDuffie injured his hamstring in pass coverage on Cardinals receiver A.J. Green. Butker slipped on a kickoff early in the game and, though he made a long field goal later on, most of his extra point and kickoff duties went to safety Justin Reid.

And here is Chiefs rookie CB Trent McDuffie’s injury.

Looks more like he pulled his hamstring chasing after WR A.J. Green as opposed to the turf at State Farm Stadium causing the injury. pic.twitter.com/ToSQqGA5vB

— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) September 14, 2022

 

“The field at State Farm Stadium is routinely ranked among the best — if not THE best — among NFL players, including in surveys conducted by the NFLPA,” Dalton told Florio. “Like all fields, the surface at State Farm Stadium undergoes the NFL’s required testing and certification process both before and after games. Sunday it not only met but exceeded those standards.”