Sports
Nabers injury revives concerns on MetLife field
The major knee injury suffered by New York Giants star wide receiver Malik Nabers has reignited discussions about the turf playing surface at MetLife Stadium.
One executive from an opposing team said this week that, due to the FieldTurf playing surface, his players are “petrified” of playing at MetLife. The executive added that if a player is nursing an injury, he might be less apt to play through it for a game at MetLife.
Others also are aware and concerned. NFL Players Association interim executive director David White was in Newark, New Jersey, on Monday for a scheduled visit with the Giants as part of his fall team meetings, and while he was there, he raised the issue of MetLife’s turf field and its ongoing history of season-ending lower extremity injuries.
Nabers suffered a season-ending torn ACL and meniscus in his right knee Sunday when he leaped for a Jaxson Dart pass. The wide receiver immediately reached for his right leg as he was in the air and landed hard on the ground.
MetLife Stadium, the home of the Giants and New York Jets, installed an updated version of FieldTurf, called the FieldTurf Core system, in 2023 that was hoped would decrease injuries. Last year, MetLife had one of the lowest injury rates in the league among fields using grass or turf, according to the NFL. Overall, there were fewer ACL injuries last year on synthetic turf than grass and there’s been no difference so far this year, the league said.
While at least 15 players have suffered knee ligament or Achilles tears at MetLife since 2020, the majority came before the new turf was installed in March 2023. Some of the more notable ones include Jaelan Phillips (Achilles, 2023), Aaron Rodgers (Achilles, 2023), Wan’Dale Robinson (ACL, 2022), Sterling Shepard (ACL, 2022), Jabrill Peppers (ACL, 2021) and Nick Bosa (ACL, 2020). Wide receivers Odell Beckham Jr. and Brandon Marshall also suffered significant ankle injuries at MetLife in 2017.
The Jets say their research shows that since 2023, grass fields have had more knee ligament or Achilles tears – with 38 injuries happening on grass field and 23 on turf, and since the turf update in 2023, 3 injuries have happened at MetLife. They say far more of these types of injuries happened in training camp than during the season. The NFL adds with both the Giants and Jets calling MetLife home, the stadium hosts twice as many games as venues with just one team.
MetLife ranked ninth-best when it comes to lower-extremity injuries, according to the NFL’s injury data from 2024. And for visiting players, who are typically more vulnerable on unfamiliar surfaces, MetLife actually graded out first, safest in the NFL.
Beckham posted to social media Sunday night asking for the NFL to “PLZ. PLZ. PLZ. GET RID OF THE [expletive emoji] TURF.”
Dear @NFL , I mean this with the upmost love and respect. We (The NFL) take all The precautions in the world with EVERYthing else when it comes to players “health” and “safety”. PLZ. PLZ. PLZ. GET RID OF THE 🤬 TURF. Thank You in advance. LUV
— Odell Beckham Jr (@obj) September 29, 2025
In each of the past two years, more than 90% of players have said through the NFLPA’s annual survey that they prefer to play on grass instead of turf fields. One NFLPA official said via email this week that its office has heard from players who are “puzzled” by stadiums that are changing to grass for the Club World Cup and World Cup but sticking with turf for football.
Despite any outcry, the NFL has no plans to change out the latest playing surface at MetLife Stadium.
Nabers’ injury shined a spotlight on the turf issue again, but one NFLPA official said the topic was percolating even earlier, after Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a turf toe injury while playing on the FieldTurf at Paycor Stadium in Week 2. Burrow underwent surgery Sept. 19 and is expected to be out at least three months.
The Bengals were among the teams that switched to the FieldTurf Core system in 2024.
Sports
Salman Ali Agha sets new record in third T20I against Sri Lanka – SUCH TV
Although the third T20I match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Dambulla proved to be a disappointment for the national team, captain Salman Ali Agha’s brilliant and aggressive batting won the hearts of cricket fans and also broke the record of former West Indies batsman Kieron Pollard.
Salman Ali Agha played an incredible innings of 45 runs in just 12 balls, which included 5 fours and 3 sixes.
His strike rate was 375.0, which is the highest strike rate by any captain in the history of T20Is (against full-member teams, with the condition of playing at least 10 balls).
With this feat, he broke the record of former West Indies batsman Kieron Pollard.
Previously, this honor was held by Kieron Pollard, who scored 38 runs off 11 balls against Sri Lanka in 2021 at a strike rate of 345.5.
The list also includes big names like Quinton de Kock, Rohit Sharma and Darren Sammy, but Salman Ali Agha left everyone behind.
Sports
‘Swarm City’: Texans’ petty post at Steelers tops NFL wild-card trolls
The NFL postseason brings elevated play on the field with the stakes higher — and one team even upped its pettiness.
The Houston Texans dominated the Pittsburgh Steelers 30-6 to clinch the final divisional round spot. The Steelers’ 24-point loss is their worst in a home playoff game in franchise history and third worst in any playoff game, according to ESPN Research.
Houston’s defense allowed just 175 total yards and forced two turnovers — both of which were returned for scores. Pittsburgh forced three turnovers, but those resulted in only six points. The Steelers became the first team to score six or fewer points in a playoff game despite having at least three takeaways since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1999. Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had 146 passing yards, while Texans signal-caller C.J. Stroud had 250 passing yards.
Houston made sure to poke fun at Pittsburgh after its victory. The Texans edited a “Welcome To Pittsburgh” sign by spray-painting the final score and “Swarm City” on it — a spin on Steel City. They also included the character from the Fallout video game series with the 713 Houston area code on the bottom.
First side quest complete. pic.twitter.com/J8Y6SliC88
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) January 13, 2026
Here are the top trolls from the NFL wild-card round.
The San Francisco 49ers upset the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles on the road. The 49ers closed as a 5.5-point underdog — according to DraftKings Sportsbook — their third-largest upset win in a postseason game in the Super Bowl era, according to ESPN Research.
With 43 seconds left, Philadelphia faced a fourth-and-11 at San Francisco’s 21-yard-line with a chance to take the lead. But Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts‘ pass was incomplete, clinching a 49ers win. San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy threw for 262 yards and two touchdowns. Hurts had 168 passing yards and a touchdown.
The 49ers followed their massive victory by trolling the Eagles. They poked fun at Philadelphia’s “Fly Eagles Fly” chant, including spelling out “Eagles.” San Francisco instead spelled out “Niners” in its caption. It also wouldn’t be a troll without referencing a Philly cheesesteak, which the 49ers posted to emphasize that they are “still hungry for more.”
The Buffalo Bills held off the Jacksonville Jaguars for their first playoff road win since the 1992 AFC Championship Game, according to ESPN Research.
The fourth quarter included touchdowns on each of Jacksonville’s and Buffalo’s first two drives — both teams had only one touchdown apiece before the final quarter. The Bills capped a nine-play, 66-yard drive with a 1-yard rushing score from quarterback Josh Allen. The Jaguars had a chance to answer with just over a minute left, but quarterback Trevor Lawrence‘s pass was picked off, sending Buffalo to the next round.
After Jacksonville clinched the AFC South in Week 18, teammate and cornerback Jarrian Jones gave Lawrence a grill in the locker room. The moment was inspired by an AI photo someone posted on social media of Lawrence wearing a grill and a giant chain around his neck.
The Bills’ postgame graphic included what resembles a grill — with “Bills Win” written on it — buried in the sand at a beach. They also shared a photo of Allen rocking shades and a chain from a July 2024 video and resurfaced a Jaguars’ post from Friday.
😁😁😁 pic.twitter.com/HRs9BVedXC
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 11, 2026
Joshua. Patrick. Allen. pic.twitter.com/OJnkr8Crqc
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 11, 2026
Right here. Right now. 😉 https://t.co/ldXBMZX32G
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 11, 2026
The Los Angeles Rams outlasted the Carolina Panthers in a wild opening playoff matchup.
Los Angeles and Carolina threw haymakers in the fourth, each scoring 14 points. There were four lead changes, tied for the most in a playoff game in NFL history. But the Rams had the go-ahead score when quarterback Matthew Stafford connected with tight end Colby Parkinson for a 19-yard touchdown with 38 seconds left. The Panthers turned it over on downs on their ensuing possession, clinching the Rams’ victory.
A huge win came with multiple clever trolls.
Los Angeles first posted a graphic of a hook with a string holding a football as a panther looked up with the caption referencing the sound commonly used to lure cats. The Rams then referenced a famous scene from the 1994 film “The Lion King,” when Rafiki presents a young Simba to the other animals as the future king. This time, Rafiki held the Panthers logo then tossed it.
ESPN Research contributed to this report.
Sports
Texans defense suffocates Aaron Rodgers, Steelers in playoff win
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Crunch.
That was the sound of Houston Texans players colliding with Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers early in the fourth quarter of their Wild Card Round matchup, causing him to lose the ball. Texans defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins picked the ball up and ran it to the end zone for what felt like the knockout blow even though there was still a lot of time left to play.
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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) loses possession of the ball while being tackled by Houston Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter (55) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)
It was that type of game for both teams – a defensive struggle – as Houston put together a 30-6 victory. It was the franchise’s first road playoff victory.
There were big hits and little room for error. Houston had a 7-6 lead at halftime thanks to a touchdown pass from C.J. Stroud to Christian Kirk.
Even as the Texans turned the ball over three times between the first half and the third quarter, the Steelers could only muster up three points. Houston’s defensive prowess was on display on each snap as Rodgers was left with little to no time to make a decision.
When he did have time to throw, wide receivers like DK Metcalf, Jonnu Smith and Calvin Austin III either dropped the ball or were just a hair off. Rodgers also had a few of his passes deflected.

Houston Texans wide receiver Christian Kirk (13) runs to the end zone for a touchdown while defended by Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Brandin Echols (26) during the first half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)
BEARS’ BEN JOHNSON POURS GASOLINE ON PACKERS RIVALRY: ‘I JUST DON’T LIKE THAT TEAM’
Steelers fans let the team hear it with plenty of boos. Pittsburgh extended its playoff losing streak to seven games.
Texans running back Woody Marks ran for 100 yards for the first time in his career and scored a touchdown to really seal the win. Texans defensive back Calen Bullock returned an interception for a touchdown late in the game.
Stroud finished 21-of-32 with 250 passing yards and the touchdown pass. The Texans’ defense sacked Rodgers four times. Rankins was good for 1.5 sacks.
The Steelers almost had no offense throughout the game. The team was held to 175 yards and outscored 23-0 in the fourth quarter.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud throws during the first half of the NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)
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Houston will take on the New England Patriots in the AFC Divisional Round.
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