Kansas City Chiefs’ Andy Reid: Arizona Cardinals turf played part in two KC injuries
Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid said the playing surface at Arizona played a factor in two of his team’s injuries.
Cornerback Trent McDuffie (hamstring) and kicker Harrison Butker (ankle) hurt themselves Sunday in the Chiefs’ 44-21 season-opening win against the Cardinals while slipping on the turf at State Farm Stadium — also the site of this season’s Super Bowl.
Reid said Tuesday that Arizona had recently resodded its field, which was the right move, considering the team practices there.
Doing that, though, led to less-than-optimal field conditions.
“It was a little bit loose. That’s what happens sometimes when you resod it — it’s loose,” Reid said. “I mean, listen, it was part of the Butker injury and McDuffie injury. Unfortunately, that was part of it.”
Butker and McDuffie were not spotted at Chiefs practice Tuesday, with McDuffie being placed by the team on injured reserve, which means he will miss at least four weeks.
Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo also referenced the circumstances of McDuffie’s injury during a call with reporters Monday.
“It was unfortunate ... the play he got hurt on, kind of the grass gave (in),” Spagnuolo said. “The turf was a little bit loose there, and he pulled the hamstring.”
Reid described a similar scenario when talking about McDuffie’s incident Tuesday.
“Just the turf picked up. I would tell you that that did have something to do with it. If it didn’t, I’d tell you that too,” Reid said. “So it’s not an excuse by any means, but, I mean, you all can see when you watch the tape.”
Reid was forthcoming with a similar circumstance in the preseason when tight end Blake Bell went down with a hip injury at Soldier Field, which has the reputation of having a poor playing surface.
When asked if the turf contributed to Bell’s injury, Reid immediately said, “No.”
“It (the injury) actually happened on his touchdown. It actually happened there,” Reid said then. “And he felt like he could still go, and he went back and then he went down.”
The Chiefs host the Los Angeles Chargers on short rest on Thursday night at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
This story was originally published September 13, 2022 at 4:06 PM.
