The Lions-Falcons preseason opener in Atlanta was suspended Friday night after Detroit safety Morice Norris was left motionless on the field by a frightening second-half collision.
Players from both teams took a knee and later formed a prayer circle as Norris was treated by medical personnel and removed from the turf at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Lions coach Dan Campbell has since given a positive update on Norris: ‘He’s breathing, he’s talking. He has some movement, and now they’re running more tests.’
Later the team followed with another update, saying Norris was staying overnight at Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Hospital, where he was in stable condition with movement in all his extremities.
‘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,’ read the team statement.
The play occurred early in the fourth quarter.
Norris (26) is hit in the helmet by Atlanta Falcons running back Nathan Carter (38)
The Lions’ Morice Norris (pictured) was injured during Friday’s preseason opener in Atlanta
Lions players stand on the field after safety Morice Norris was injured during the second half
Norris was seen lowering his head as he attempted to tackle Falcons running back Nathan Carter in the second half. Carter’s knee appeared to hit Norris’ helmet, sending the 24-year-old’s head jerking backwards as he fell to the turf.
Medical personnel tended to Norris on the turf for about 20 minutes before moving him to a stretcher and placing him in an ambulance.
On the ensuing play, Falcons quarterback Emory Jones simply held the ball as players from both teams stood still, allowing the clock to run down to 6:31. At that point, an official announced the preseason game had been suspended by the league offices in New York with the Lions leading 17-10.
Later, though, Campbell described it as a ‘coaches’ decision,’ while crediting the Falcons’ Raheem Morris for his cooperation.
‘Raheem Morris is the ultimate class act,’ Campbell said. ‘We agreed it wasn’t right to complete that game.’
The Falcons released a few words on X following the prayer circle: ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with Morice Norris, his family, and the Lions organization.’
The last NFL game to be suspended due to a player injury was in January of 2023, when Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest after trying to make a tackle on Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins.
Hamlin was revived on the field and has since made his return to the NFL.
After an impressive college career at Fresno State, Norris went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft but still managed to catch on with the Lions’ practice squad after failing to make the team out of training camp.
Later, following a string of late-season injuries to Lions players, Norris was signed off the practice squad and made his NFL debut in Detroit’s playoff loss to the Washington Commanders.
Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions players stand on the field, hand in hand, on Friday
An emotional Dan Campbell addresses the media about Morice Norris’ injury
Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons players take a knee as Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris is helped by medical personnel on the field during Friday’s preseason opener
Norris was later said to have some movement. He was also speaking at the hospital
Medical personnel aid Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris during Friday’s preseason opener
Lions head coach Dan Campbell talks with players after safety Morice Norris was injured
Fans were particularly happy with the way players handled the aftermath of Norris’ injury, both for their decision to pray at midfield and to run out the clock.
‘Absolute masterclass in sportsmanship by the Falcons and Lions,’ one fan wrote online. ’50 players trying to make an NFL roster and they rally around their fallen brother in arms and run out the clock.
‘Big prayers up to Morice Norris.’
‘This is genuinely the classiest thing I’ve ever seen during a football game,’ read a post from The Detroit Times. ‘Both teams agreeing to run out the clock completely out of respect for Morice Norris.’
‘I’m crying,’ another fan added. ‘The players are letting the clock run out and standing together praying for Morice Norris. This is unbelievably powerful.’
