Players from the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns expressed frustration and concerns to the NFL Players Association about the subpar playing surface at the Acrisure Stadium, which they deemed 'embarrassing'. The NFLPA has taken note and will work to prevent such issues in the future. Some players reported the field was dry and kicked up grass chunks during explosive movements. The Steelers' coach, Mike Tomlin, acknowledged the concern, stating that the turf would be replaced, but the field conditions were poor on Monday. Steelers kicker Chris Boswell slipped on the turf, missing a field goal, and special teams captain Miles Killebrew suffered a significant knee injury. Defensive captain and NFLPA team representative Cameron Heyward called the field 's---' and expressed sadness over a teammate's injury. He prefers grass over turf, but the Acrisure Stadium's field was below standard. The NFL has stated that synthetic turf and grass surfaces have similar injury rates, with fewer ACL injuries on synthetic turf. However, players advocate for high-quality grass fields and better maintenance practices to ensure the safest playing conditions. The stadium is shared with the University of Pittsburgh, and the field's wear-and-tear is managed between the two teams. The Steelers had just one home game in the previous stretch, while Pitt hosted four of their first five games at Acrisure. The field's condition typically worsens later in the season before re-sodding.
