The Texans will "change the playing surface at NRG Stadium to artificial turf for the rest of this season," beginning with their game Sunday against the Buccaneers, according to Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com. The Texans will install AstroTurf for the rest of '15, but "would like to return to natural grass after the season." During the Sept. 13 season opener against the Chiefs, seams between the pieces of sod that made up the field "were especially visible, prompting concerns about the consistency of the surface." Texans Exec VP/Football Operations & GM Rick Smith said that the Chiefs "complained about it." Ganguli noted the field is "made up of 8-foot-by-8-foot sections of sod brought in on trays for games." The field "has been blamed for many injuries over the past several years." The Texans "are tenants at NRG Stadium, which is operated by SMG and Harris County" (ESPN.com, 9/18). In Houston, Dale Robertson noted the Texans "concluded their playing surface was no longer sufficiently up to snuff for NFL football." Smith on Friday said the team has been "very proud" of its grass playing surface, but added it "hasn't been up to historical standards this year." But Smith "pointed out the Texans have not given up on having a viable grass playing surface." The plan is to "re-implement the same system, albeit with major fixes," next season (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/19). PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio wrote the team’s position is that the current system "has been fine until this year, that criticism of it has been misplaced, and that it’s coincidental that the team suddenly has decided after two preseason games and a regular-season game to get rid of it." Smith "disputed the notion that the Texans had stayed with grass due to economics" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 9/18). ESPN's Mark Dominik, who previously served as Buccaneers GM, said, "You’d be shocked as a GM that you’re spending time worrying about the football field. I think it’s a good move” (“NFL Live,” ESPN, 9/18).
