It's actually a chain link fence behind the crimson pads. They could narrow the walkway a bit behind it. It's insane to have a wall within 2 steps of the playing field. The only concrete bordering the playing field is directly behind the south endzone and I believe it is unpadded. What he hit though was a chain link face and he took the top of it right in the face.
It's a good thing that he was moving his finger flashing the #1 sign while being rolled off the field and it looked like his forearm was moving as well though limited because it was strapped down pretty well.