Grass at Acrisure Stadium draws scrutiny after Steelers-Browns game

After the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 23-9 victory over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, players and league officials raised sharp concerns about the condition of the grass at Acrisure Stadium, which several players described as dangerously degraded by late in the game. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers called the surface "borderline unplayable," and the NFL Players Association notified the NFL after multiple players from both teams reported slipping and expressed outrage about footing on the field.

The problems were immediately evident on game plays and in the injury report. Steelers safety and special teams captain Miles Killebrew sustained a noncontact knee injury that head coach Mike Tomlin called significant. Kicker Chris Boswell missed a 54-yard attempt after his plant foot slipped in the sod. Defensive lineman and team player representative Cameron Heyward said the field conditions were poor and that the team had lost a teammate to an injury he believes was related to the surface.

Team and stadium officials took prompt remedial action. A Steelers spokesperson confirmed the grounds crew began resodding the playing surface after the game and noted that the sod is routinely replaced several...