Malik Nabers’ non-contact knee injury elicited a call to action from a former Giants wide receiver who has suffered his share of serious leg ailments.
Odell Beckham Jr. urged the NFL to get rid of turf fields after Nabers was carted off at MetLife Stadium during the Giants’ 21-18 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
“We (The NFL) take all The precautions in the world with EVERYthing else when it comes to players ‘health’ and ‘safety,’” Beckham wrote on social media. “PLZ. PLZ. PLZ. GET RID OF THE TURF. Thank You in advance.”
The Giants have not announced Nabers’ diagnosis, but multiple reports said he was feared to have suffered an ACL tear.
The injury occurred as Nabers attempted to haul in a deep ball from rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart along the sideline during the second quarter. Nabers planted his right leg before he jumped, then grabbed that knee and screamed in pain before teammates surrounded him in a sobering scene.
Nabers is the latest player to suffer a leg injury at MetLife Stadium, where the artificial turf has long been the subject of criticism. Others in recent years include teammate Wan’Dale Robinson, as well as former Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Before the 2023 season, MetLife Stadium switched to a FieldTurf Core system that was considered a safer alternative.
“Respect and u [know] I loveeeee the giants, but DeathLife has taken too many talented players away from the game,” Beckham wrote.
“I [know] it’s not ALL the turfs fault but at least maybe it to where we’ve gotten all research done to if TURF has to stay it’s at the HIGHEST of quality possible. At least can we start the discussion [sic].”
Beckham, who spent his first five seasons with the Giants from 2014-18, suffered a fractured ankle at MetLife Stadium in 2017 when he was rolled up on by a defender, also against the Chargers.
He then suffered a pair of ACL tears, first as a member of the Cleveland Browns in 2020, and then with the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI in 2022. Those injuries occurred at Cincinnati’s Paul Brown Stadium and Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium, both of which use synthetic turf.
Beckham, who is currently a free agent, is a former first-round pick out of LSU, just like Nabers.
The 32-year-old Beckham and 22-year-old Nabers were seen chatting outside of the Giants’ locker room after last week’s 22-9 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs at MetLife Stadium.
Following Nabers’ injury on Sunday, Beckham wrote on social media, “My heart hurts for ya.”
Nabers is the Giants’ offensive focal point, and he set the franchise’s single-season receptions record with 109 last year as a rookie. This season, he is tied for the most receptions on the Giants with 18, while his 271 receiving yards and two touchdown catches lead the team.
