Patrick Mahomes and several NFL players have publicly urged the league to use natural grass on all their playing surfaces, contending that synthetic turf causes more injuries. Just this past weekend, Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce turned his ankle in a non-contact play. Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson landed on the IR after injuring his hamstring while running on the turf in Minnesota. How big of a concern should it be for parents of young athletes who play on those surfaces that are becoming more popular for youth and high school sports? Dr. Eric Gifford of 417 Sports Medicine and Orthopedics in Springfield says natural grass fields can cause injuries and he has noticed no uptick in injuries with more turf fields.
