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The NFL Players Association has expressed concerns about the playing field conditions at Maracaña Stadium in Rio de Janeiro where the Baltimore Ravens will face the Dallas Cowboys this weekend. Executive director JC Tretter stated that fiber stitching is being added to improve traction and stability on a grass field initially deemed loose and patchy, raising questions about the NFL’s commitment to maintaining player safety standards while expanding globally.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-25,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Nick Pappas, the NFL's field director, expressed confidence in the condition of the turf at Maracanã Stadium for the upcoming game between the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens on September 27. Despite concerns raised by the NFL Players Association about loose and patchy grass leading to safety issues, groundskeepers used scissors and a new GrassMaster Stitch Machine to improve traction and stability just days before the match. The league aims to ensure player safety while still hosting international games in Rio de Janeiro. Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson acknowledged past experiences playing on poor fields but emphasized focusing on winning rather than worrying about turf conditions.
Written for “Ravens-Cowboys Game Rio” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 15 other(s) covering the same event.
As the NFL world anticipates the first game held in Rio de Janeiro this weekend, concerns continue to grow surrounding the playing conditions the Ravens and Cowboys will be encountering.
asserted
Ravens → anticipate → conditions
Maracaña Stadium’s grass is being actively worked on, and fiber stitching is being added to the grass to improve “resistance and safety” for the players.
asserted
stitching → work → players
NFL Players Association executive director JC Tretter spoke out about the upcoming game in a written statement.
asserted
Tretter → speak → statement
“The concern heading into this week was that the field would be loose, patchy, and lead to excessive slipping,” Tretter said.
asserted
Tretter → head → slipping
“Based on our experts’ assessment, the field needed better traction and stability.
asserted
field → base → traction
They recommended reinforced stitching to help the surface hold together and brought in equipment to reinforce as much of the field as possible before the game.”
asserted
surface → recommend → game
Tretter said the issues speak to the concerns the union has about growing the game internationally.
asserted
union → say → game
“The NFL has been clear they want to continue to grow the game internationally.
asserted
they → want → game
The goal has to be growing the game while maintaining the standards our players deserve.
asserted
players → have → standards
If we can’t do both, then we need to make different decisions.”
asserted
we → do → decisions
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was asked on Wednesday his thoughts on the field conditions.
asserted
Jackson → ask → conditions
“I believe the NFL does a great job at having their specialists go out there and look over the fields,” he said.
asserted
he → believe → fields
“I cannot worry about that.
asserted
I → worry → that
I just have to worry about getting us a dub in Brazil.
asserted
I → have → Brazil
[As for] the field, we have played on bad fields plenty of times, so I cannot really dwell on that.”
asserted
I → play → that
Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said the players have been taught about choosing their cleats for potentially difficult conditions.
asserted
players → say → conditions
“At the end of the day, these guys have to wear things that make them feel comfortable, and if they’re slipping, then that’s going to be on them,” he said.
asserted
he → have → them
The 49ers and Rams played the league’s first-ever game in Melbourne, Australia, in Week 1.
asserted
49ers → play → Week
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