Brandon Marshall blames MetLife Stadium turf for injury derailing his career

Former All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Marshall says that the turf at MetLife Stadium, his home field while playing with the New York Jets and Giants, derailed his career.

Players tend to dislike playing on turf. It’s thought to lead to more injuries for players, though it is easier to maintain, especially in areas where winters can be harsh. This has led to tension about its usage in football with the NFLPA even pressuring the league over the issue.

It was while Brandon Marshall was playing with the Giants that he suffered an ankle injury that required surgery and ended his season. Less than two years later, Marshall would be out of football and his career would come to an end.

“That was pretty much the last of me,” Brandon Marshall said of the ankle injury to Doctor Mike. “I felt like I could’ve played a couple of more years, you know? That play was over.”

On the play where he was injured, Marshall snapped his deltoid. It’s a brutal injury and potentially could have had something to do with the playing surface, which was turf and harder than the typical grass field.

“I snapped my deltoid. That’s really hard to do. That’s like a car accident. I knew it was over.”

Brandon Marshall isn’t the only former Jets or Giants player who has registered a complaint about the turf at MetLife Field. In fact, Giants owner John Mara has even said that the goal is to move to natural grass at some point. However, that hasn’t happened, yet.

Despite the injury, Brandon Marshall says that he’d unretire to play with Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium. He also interviewed Rodgers ahead of the move, teasing that Rodgers would be going to New York.

Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson has higher expectations for himself with Aaron Rodgers

Garrett Wilson was outstanding as a rookie in 2022. That was with major issues at the quarterback position. So, it’s not surprising that Wilson expects to be a better player in 2023 with Aaron Rodgers throwing him the ball.

“I expect more than all that. For me, it’s always been about the ultimate confidence in myself and putting the work behind it so you know it can happen when the season comes around,” Wilson said.

“I’m not buying into all that stuff too much. No one’s expectations for me are higher than my own.”