The preseason game between the Detroit Lions and host Atlanta Falcons on Friday night was suspended in the fourth quarter after Lions safety Morice Norris Jr. was taken off the field in an ambulance following a hit to the head.
Later Friday, the Lions released a statement regarding Norris’ condition:
“Morice Norris is in stable condition and has feeling and movement in all his extremities. He will remain at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta overnight for observation. We would like to thank the Atlanta Falcons organization, the EMS team at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the doctors and staff at Grady for their support.”
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Falcons running Nathan Carter took a handoff and got into the Detroit secondary. As Norris went in for the tackle, Carter’s right knee hit Norris in the head. The second-year player immediately went to the turf and Lions trainers ran into the field.
After being tended to, Norris was put in an ambulance and taken to an area hospital.
After the game, Lions coach Dan Campbell said, “It’s just an eye-opener. It hits, you know? It hits a little different. It puts things in perspective.
“I’ll tell you what — man, it’s a violent game, and we love it. But when something like this happens, the silver lining is the brotherhood. To see all those guys from that team, (and) our team, kind of come together and everybody is thinking about another player, it just means a lot.”
On the ensuing play after Norris’ injury, Falcons quarterback Emory Jones took the snap and then walked to the middle of the field, where players from both teams formed a circle and prayed. The clock continued running with no more plays run, and more than eight minutes later, officials called the game.
The Lions won the game 17-10.
Campbell and Falcons coach Raheem Morris jointly decided the game shouldn’t continue.
“You look in (the players’) eyes, and you saw it, and you get an opportunity to address the team and talk about your prayers and your thoughts for Mo and his family,” Morris said of what he told the squad. “And you talk about (the players) and their families and their well-being and all the things that we’ve been a part of together. It was pretty simple to talk about those things with those guys.”
Detroit quarterback Kyle Allen said, “It’s never good when they bring out the stretchers. We just started praying for him and hoping for the best.
“When it’s taking that long, with that many people and that many trainers around him, you’re just hoping for the best.”
Norris, 24, appeared in two games for the Lions last year after signing as an undrafted free agent. He was in on one play on defense and 32 plays on special teams.
He played two seasons at Fresno State (2022-23) after spending two seasons in junior college. Norris had 116 tackles, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and 17.5 tackles for loss with the Bulldogs.
–Field Level Media
