Bills’ new stadium facing another hurdle ahead of home opener

Even the playing surfaces at NFL stadiums need a moment to get into regular-season form.

The Buffalo Bills are planning to replace the grass surface at Highmark Stadium before their home opener against the Detroit Lions in Week 2.

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The Buffalo News was the first to report the team’s groundskeeping plans. USA TODAY Sports has reached out to the Bills for confirmation.

The 2026 season will mark the first time the Bills are playing their home games on a grass surface – and not artificial turf – since 1972. During the entire, 53-year period in which they were tenants of Ralph Wilson Stadium, the Bills played on synthetic material. But Buffalo’s new grass field had a shaky debut when the Bills played their first preseason game of the year on Aug. 15.

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A first look at the new Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen

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A first look at the new Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen

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A first look at the new Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen

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A first look at the new Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen

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A first look at the new Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen

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A first look at the new Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen

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A first look at the new Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen

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A first look at the new Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen

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A first look at the new Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen

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A first look at the new Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen

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A first look at the new Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen

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A first look at the new Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen

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A first look at the new Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen

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A first look at the new Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen

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A first look at the new Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen

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A first look at the new Highmark Stadium, home of the Buffalo Bills, Josh Allen

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On one play, backup quarterback Kyle Allen scrambled out of the pocket then took a hit as he slid down on the new grass field. During the play, The Athletic’s Tim Graham reported, a “massive clump” of grass was ripped out of the ground after the tackle.

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Starting quarterback Josh Allen was joined by teammates DJ Moore, Dion Dawkins and Spencer Brown in trying to stomp the displaced grass back into the divot after the play, Graham reported.

The Bills did not make any notable changes to the surface before their next home game: a preseason finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Instead, they waited until after the preseason to re-sod the field and get it prepared for Buffalo’s regular season home opener in Week 2.

The Bills will play the Texans in Houston to begin the season on Sept. 13 before returning home to face the Lions in a “Thursday Night Football” matchup on Sept. 17, where the new field of grass in the new stadium will make its debut.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bills’ new stadium facing another hurdle ahead of home opener