Turf Hits 157 Degrees in Nashville, Melting Cleats and Sending Nick Sirianni for an IV
The Eagles' 24-20 win over the Titans kicked off in 95-degree heat with a heat index near 105. Lane Johnson called it one of the five toughest games of his career, and Jordan Mailata renewed the players' push for grass.
The artificial turf at Nissan Stadium reached 157 degrees during Sunday's Eagles-Titans game, hot enough to soften the plastic in players' cleats. The air temperature at the noon kickoff was 95 with a heat index around 105 under a heat dome over the region, and Eagles coach Nick Sirianni needed IV fluids after Philadelphia's 24-20 win.
What did the heat do to the players?
Eagles center Cam Jurgens changed cleats several times and said afterward his feet were "burning, still hurting." Left tackle Jordan Mailata rolled his ankles twice and suspects the softened plastic was a factor. It has happened in Nashville before this season: Titans safety Amani Hooker said the midsoles of his cleats "melted completely off" in the opener against the Jets, and cameras caught Tennessee staff spraying cleats with water on Sunday. "It was one of the top five toughest games I've been a part of," Lane Johnson said.
Will anything change?
Players want it to. "We've got to bring it up. This is why we want all grass fields," Mailata said. The Eagles had flown in a day early and held a midday walk-through Saturday to get used to the conditions. Neither the league nor the Titans had announced any response as of Sunday night.
Players in this story
Sources
- ESPN: Nashville turf temp of 157 F melts cleats, sends Sirianni for IV
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