The turf war in Pittsburgh is heating up. But it’s not the kind that happens on the field. Players from both the Steelers and Browns have voiced serious frustration over the “embarrassing” playing surface at Acrisure Stadium during Week 6. The concerns are now reaching the NFL Players Association. But it seems coach Mike Tomlin isn’t too worried.

“I’m not a grass expert. I haven’t cut my own grass in a long, long time. I’m gonna stay in my lane. I don’t even know who cuts my grass,” he said casually. That comment raised eyebrows across the league.

While most players and coaches were calling out the unsafe field conditions, Tomlin’s refusal to weigh in came off as avoidance, something a coach shouldn’t do. Fortunately, most of the players echoed the same statement, who described the field as “dry” and unstable throughout the game.

Steelers offensive lineman Broderick Jones described the turf as unstable. The backlash even drew official attention from Brian McCarthy. The chief NFL spokesman admitted:

“has been in touch with both the union and the club, which has taken steps to replace the grass surface.” But the damage to some players has already been done.

Defensive lineman Cam Heyward said that the season-ending injury suffered by Miles Killebrew was due to the turf conditions at the stadium. He injured his knee during the second quarter against the Browns. It happened when Miles was blocked by safety Rayshawn Jenkins. After the incident, he was seen limping towards the sideline. But he is not the only player who was affected.

Steelers kicker Chris Boswell slipped on the turf and missed a key fourth-quarter field goal attempt. Although he didn’t injure himself, this incident cost the team a field goal. The league, it looks like, has tried to downplay the outrage.

It noted that last season’s injury data showed “no difference in injury rates between synthetic turf and grass surfaces,” and even fewer ACL injuries on turf compared to grass. But to players, the data doesn’t tell the full story.

Outcry over the Acrisure field grows as Aaron Rodgers opens up

When veteran QB Aaron Rodgers speaks about a field, you listen. Rodgers called the surface “borderline unplayable” ahead of the Steelers’ matchup against the Bengals. For a player known for his precision and field awareness, that kind of warning says a lot.

“It got really beat up,” the QB said, “By the time the third quarter rolled around, that thing was really beat up. So I feel bad about what happened to Miles (Killebrew). I’m not sure if there was any carry there.”But Rodgers isn’t the only one talking.

An NFLPA source echoed the same concerns, stressing that the quality of grass matters more than the surface label.

“Players prefer grass fields, but all grass surfaces aren’t equal,” the source told ESPN. “The conditions at Acrisure Stadium underscore why players have pushed for high-quality grass fields and why the NFLPA continues to advocate for improved, shared maintenance practices of grass fields across the league.”

The issue also stems from the fact that Acrisure Stadium’s condition has long been complicated by shared use. The Steelers and the University of Pittsburgh both call the venue home.

While the Steelers had only played one home game since mid-September, Pitt had already hosted four of its first five games there. That heavy early-season use likely contributed to the worn-out middle of the field, which looked beaten down despite no games being played in the two weeks prior. The poor situation demands immediate action now more than ever.

When Pitt and the Steelers return to their home turf, both will take the field on fresh grass. Pitt is hosting North Carolina State on October 25, followed by the Steelers facing the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, October 26. And while Tomlin says he’s “not a grass expert,” his players and the league are making sure the problem is no longer brushed under the rug.