On the artificial turf of MetLife Stadium in Week 7 of the 2021 NFL season, New York Giants safety and team captain Jabrill Peppers sustained a serious lower-extremity injury. In the third quarter against the Carolina Panthers, Peppers was tackled while returning a punt, resulting in a high ankle sprain in his right leg and a ruptured ACL. He became the third Giants captain to suffer a season-ending injury that year, after linebacker Blake Martinez and center Nick Gates, when this regrettable incident ended his season too soon. With players calling for a switch to natural grass in order to lower injury risks, Peppers' injury further fueled the ongoing discussion about the safety of artificial turf in NFL stadiums. ​The NFL has been adamant about producing research on non-contact injuries on turf vs grass but have failed to include injuries such as these where the turf can prevent athletes from being able to remove their leg in time during contact injuries, ultimately causing significant injuries.