“We’re ready to roll anytime, anywhere, whether it’s in the parking lot, whether it’s on some nice grass or a mud field, we don’t care.” This was Kansas City Chiefs TE Travis Kelce’s reaction when he was asked if he was jet-lagged after the overnight flight to Germany, just two days before the game. Kelce might be ready to play anywhere, but the field at Deutsche Bank Park is neither grass nor artificial – it’s hybrid. So, what is a hybrid turf and does it pose more or less danger to players?

The upcoming match between the Chiefs and the Dolphins will be a nail-biting one. Both teams are at the top of their divisions, and they are headed by two MVP-worthy quarterbacks – Patrick Mahomes and Tua Tagovailoa. But most NFL games are played on either grass or artificial turf. Will the NFL’s experiment with hybrid prove costly for players in a repeat of the Aaron Rodgers-style injury?

A primer on hybrid turf and why it’s the best option

Grass turfs are a pain in the neck. Agreed, players feel more comfortable playing on grass, and it naturally acts as a cushion to reduce the severity of injuries, but they’re expensive to maintain. Players racing all over it, falling and tumbling and skidding… all of it takes a toll and results in wear and tear. Besides, weather conditions such as heavy rains can make the field muddy, extreme heat can dry out the grass, and snowfall can make it mushy.

According to Integral Spor, a leader in hybrid turf production, hybrid turf is the panacea for all the drawbacks of grass. In a hybrid turf, the root system is attached to the artificial grass fibers. And in that way, a more durable product is created. It creates a microclimate area that promotes grass regrowth. It minimizes the effect of weather conditions and is much more economical to maintain. That’s why the NFL has been pushing for it.

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Another aspect is that when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers beat the Seattle Seahawks last year in Munich, Seahawks HC Pete Carroll said that the field was “slick” and “I wish the field was firmer.” Bucs HC Todd Bowles also described the grass as “real slippery and short.” The NFL heard it and ahead of Sunday’s game had the Frankfurt stadium replace its grass turf with hybrid turf. Two birds with one stone. But is the hybrid surface really safe for players?

Hybrid turf may not be the ultimate solution

Hybrid turf does indeed reduce the impact of, well, impacts. But at the same time, it provides players with a firm surface to play on. However, it’s still not as safe as grass. There has been no thorough study conducted on football games since hybrid turf is so rare. But studies exist on soccer games. Sports Labs, reported that the English Premier League found that hybrid surfaces do indeed result in a higher incidence of injuries to elite players.

Should Chiefs fans be concerned? After all, it’s Mahomes’ first time playing in Germany, though not his first international match. He had played at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, in 2019, where the Chiefs beat the Chargers 24-17. Mahomes is already banged up, having just recently recovered from the flu and an injury to his non-throwing hand after it got stepped on, in the Broncos match. Fans are hoping they won’t get to see Mahomes tear his Achilles. Or is it game over for the Chiefs?

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