State Farm Stadium Field Continues to be a Nightmare Waiting to Happen

By Walter Mitchell

If you Google the question as to whether wet football fields increase the odds for the players getting injured, here is the automated response:

Wet football fields significantly increase injury risks by causing slipping, reduced traction, and harder, compacted surfaces that lead to bruises, concussions, and ligament tears (ACL/Achilles). Muddy conditions make sudden stops difficult, while wet clay-based fields can tear in chunks, causing lower extremity injuries. 

Common Injuries Associated with Wet Fields:

• Impact Injuries: Slipping on mud or wet turf can cause collisions with other players or hard objects, resulting in bruises and concussions.
• Lower Extremity Injuries: Reduced traction and increased torque on wet surfaces can lead to torn ACLs, Achilles tendon injuries, and ankle sprains.
• Muscle Strains: Compaction and uneven terrain from mud can cause muscle strains, particularly in the hamstrings and groin. 

Factors Increasing Risk:

• Soil Compaction: Wet, clay-based fields become compacted, causing the turf to come up in chunks.
• Reduced Traction: Wet conditions drastically reduce the grip of cleats, making changing direction dangerous.
• Improper Equipment: Using the wrong type of cleats on wet surfaces can increase injury risk. 

Prevention Tips:

• Field Management: Properly aerate fields so they drain effectively.
• Equipment Adjustment: Ensure players use appropriate cleats for wet, slick conditions.
• Precautionary Measures: Warn athletes of the conditions and advise them to avoid slide tackling.
• Reschedule: If the field is too wet (e.g., if you can leave footprints), it may be safer to postpone the event to avoid injury and damage to the field. 

If a field is too wet, it is recommended to take practices indoors to gyms for skill work or conditioning.

Link:

do wet football field cause injuries - Google Search

As we outlined in great detail in this week's Red Rain Podcast, here is a list of Cardinals' players who have suffered leg injuries on the field at State Farm Stadium either in practices, pre-season games or regular season games.

Is that gaping 16-3 disparity just a bizarre fluke? No way. Look at the history. Ask Andy Reid what he thinks of the field at SFS. Ask coaches from Fiesta Bowl teams. Ask the NFL Super Bowl Committee.

Note: not only do the Cardinals play 10 games on that field every year, but they also conduct their training camp on that field. Easy solution: the Cardinals should install the state-of-the-art synthetic turf (Hellas Construction's synthetic Matrix® Turf) that the Rams and Chargers play on at SoFi stadium. Rams have only 1 starter on IR (T Rob Havenstein, ankle and knee bursitis) and Chargers have 2 starters on IR (Joe Alt who suffered his ankle injury

@NYG

then

@TEN

, T Rashawn Slater who suffered his knee injury at Loyola Marymount in training camp). Teams with domed stadiums have the unique opportunity to create ideal playing conditions, particularly in terms of traction and game temperature. While grass fields have bend, when they are wet, they drastically increase the odds for leg injuries. The Hellas Construction's synthetic Matrix (R) Turf not only provides maximum traction it also provides a favorable bend. And it is far easier to maintain.

William Herrik Nielsen

@WHNielsenMD

·

2h

Replying to @WBJMItch

Why did the opposing teams not suffer a lot of lower leg injuries as well then? Just look at the last game vs. the Falcons for example

Walter B J Mitchell

@WBJMItch

Opponents' leg injuries suffered at State Farm Stadium 2025 KC DB Deon Bush - Achilles CAR C Austin Corbett - MCL SEA DE DeMarcus Lawrence -hip GB WR Dontayvion Wicks - ankle SF S Tatum Bethune -ankle SF K Eddie Pineira - hamstring JX G Chuma Edoga - calf JX DT Danny Striggow - knee ATL A.J. Terrell - hamstring

Unacceptable --- Completely Unacceptable --- Click here to re-view:

https://x.com/rdmiller94/status/2003509982265053537?s=20