'It's garbage, man': Jets WR Garrett Wilson trashes playing surface at MetLife Stadium

The problem for Garrett Wilson is that this is the only home stadium his team has.

The young New York Jets star receiver had some choice words for the playing surface at MetLife Stadium, the team's home venue, after he sustained a non-contact lower leg injury during Sunday's 20-14 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles.

"It’s garbage, man," Wilson, 23, told reporters after the game. "You’re out there running and all of a sudden your legs aren’t in the same place your head is at. And it’s kind of like, what’s the difference between the week, and now? You look down, and you see the turf."

The Jets training facility in Florham Park, N.J. features outdoor practice fields of natural grass. While the Jets also have an indoor option so that they can practice during inclement weather, New York primarily practices outside on the natural surface.

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Wilson suffered the injury Sunday on a routine route, when he approached a pair of Eagles defenders and looked to plant his feet and turn in the opposite direction. His right ankle, though, appeared to get caught in the turf, prompting him to lose his balance and fall. There was immediate concern, as non-contact injuries, especially on synthetic turfs, can often be season-ending ones.

Wilson limped off the field and was examined on the sideline under the blue medical tent. He would later return to action and finished the game with eight catches on 12 targets for 90 yards – all of which were team-highs.

"I have a pretty good gauge on myself, when it’s 'You can’t play through this,' or, 'Let's go get it looked at and let’s get back out there,'" Wilson added. "I didn’t have any injury today that resulted in me being like, "Oh, I might not be able to come back." Any time I take the field and leave the field with that, it’s a blessing from above."

The synthetic turf at MetLife Stadium has come under repeated criticism from players. In particular, after a September 2020 game, San Francisco 49ers players ripped the surface for being "sticky" and blamed it for a rash of lower-body injuries.

This season, the field came under scrutiny again after prized offseason acquisition Aaron Rodgers ruptured his left Achilles tendon in a season-opening victory against the Buffalo Bills.

The crew at MetLife Stadium had replaced the field over the offseason to a FieldTurf Core system, which is designed to help prevent lower-body injuries.

The Giants and Jets both play their home games at the stadium.

"Everyone’s got to play on it," Wilson said. "Everyone is trying to do what they can with it, and I’m figuring it out."