In one of the day’s most exciting games, the Pittsburgh Steelers made a great comeback against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Many didn’t expect Tampa Bay to stay in this matchup, but the Steelers didn’t play well until the end.
After the game, Aaron Rodgers spoke about the win and raised concerns about the playing surface in Tampa Bay.
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers Speaks on Injury Risk in Tampa Bay
When discussions turn to some of the NFL’s most criticized playing surfaces, MetLife Stadium and Levi’s Stadium, home of the San Francisco 49ers, often come up. Rodgers, though, believes Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay deserves to be part of that conversation.
In the Steelers’ post-game press conference, after their clutch win, Rodgers spoke to the media and made sure to say something about the playing surface:
“‘It’s got to be one of the worst playing surfaces in the league. When we’re talking about player safety, that’s a real concern,’ Rodgers said. ‘I’m thankful I didn’t get hurt today, but I’ve been injured twice on this field before, and in my opinion, the turf was a factor both times. I know USF plays here, but that surface just doesn’t feel very safe. From my perspective, it’s a field that needs to be looked at because player safety should always come first.'”
Clearly, Rodgers doesn’t like playing in Tampa Bay, and as he mentioned, he’s suffered two injuries while playing there. Some players always get injured at the same stadium, and it can feel like a curse on their careers, but if other players are complaining about a field, the league may need to look into a serious issue.
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Nonetheless, Rodgers was able to escape without an injury; he was a massive part in getting this win for Pittsburgh. He finished with 253 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, and 1 interception, adding a great performance to his long career.
This season, Rodgers has been fine, currently ranking 24th in PFN’s QB Impact Metric, but if he can have more performances like today, he could rise. Next week, the Steelers may have to worry about injuries again as they travel to Paris for the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in France.
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Their opponent, the New Orleans Saints, are also coming off a win, but both teams will face long travel, a time difference, and a change in practice habits. Hopefully, both can avoid injuries, but good news for Rodgers: he won’t have to play in Tampa Bay ever again.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.