In Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season, Cooper Kupp, the Los Angeles Rams' star wide receiver, suffered a serious ankle injury while playing against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium, which has a natural grass field. Kupp left the game after his left ankle rolled awkwardly during a tackle in the second quarter. The injury kept him out of action for weeks, and he was later spotted leaving the locker room wearing a walking boot. Though this injury did not occur on turf, Kupp has been a vocal supporter of playing on natural grass fields, highlighting player safety even though this injury happened on a grass field. He has made it apparent that he prefers grass to artificial turf, saying, "Hands down, we should be playing on grass." Many players are calling for a league-wide switch to natural grass to lower injury risks, and Kupp's injury and remarks afterward have added to the ongoing discussion about the safety of NFL playing surfaces.