Sterling Shepard (AP Photo/Steve Luciano)

Odell Beckham Jr. Rips NFL Turf Fields After Giants' Sterling Shepard's Knee Injury

Tim Daniels

Odell Beckham Jr. questioned why all NFL stadiums don't feature grass fields after former New York Giants teammate Sterling Shepard suffered a torn ACL on the MetLife Stadium turf on Monday night.

Giants wide receiver Kadarius Toney also ripped the turf after Shepard's injury (Warning: NSFW language):

Beckham is currently a free agent while recovering from a torn ACL suffered on a non-contact play during Super Bowl LVI, which was played on the turf at SoFi Stadium in February.

After OBJ's injury, several NFL players made posts on social media calling for the end of turf fields in favor of natural grass playing surfaces.

Entering the 2022 season, there were 17 grass fields and 13 turf fields in the NFL, per Stadiums of Pro Football. It's 30 fields for 32 teams because the Giants and Jets as well as the Los Angeles Chargers and Rams share stadiums.

Shepard suffered a torn Achilles last December but recovered in time for the start of the new season.

"It's tough. I'm not even going to lie. It's hard not to get choked up about it," Giants teammate Darius Slayton told reporters. "He's been here since the first day I got drafted. He's done a lot for me as a young guy. And then seeing him come off the Achilles last year and rehab all year, and how hard he fought to get back out there, it's definitely hard to see."

The 29-year-old University of Oklahoma alum was the Giants' leading receiver through three games, tallying 154 yards and one touchdown on 13 catches.

New York has been operating without a true No. 1 receiver so far this season. Slayton, Richie James, Wan'Dale Robinson, Toney and Kenny Golladay will compete for additional targets if Shepard is out for the remainder of the year.

The Giants are back in action Sunday when they host the Chicago Bears at MetLife Stadium.

   

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