Lions-Falcons Preseason Ends Early After Morice Norris Injury/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris was hospitalized after a serious on-field injury during a preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons, prompting the game to end early. Norris is in stable condition with movement in all extremities, the team said. Coaches from both sides agreed it was the right call to stop play out of respect for the injured player.
Lions-Falcons Norris Injury Quick Looks
- Incident occurred with 14:50 left in the fourth quarter.
- Norris hospitalized overnight at Grady Memorial in Atlanta, stable condition.
- Coaches agreed to end game early with Detroit leading 17–10.
- Collision happened while tackling Falcons RB Nathan Carter.
- Players prayed on the field during extended medical care.
- Two 2023 preseason games were also ended early due to injuries.
- Comparable incident to Damar Hamlin’s 2023 cardiac arrest recovery.
Lions-Falcons Preseason Ends Early After Morice Norris Injury
Deep Look
A preseason game between the Detroit Lions and the Atlanta Falcons ended prematurely Friday night after Lions safety Morice Norris suffered a serious injury that required prolonged on-field medical attention and hospitalization.
With 14:50 left in the fourth quarter and Detroit leading 17–10, Norris attempted a tackle on Falcons running back Nathan Carter. The collision saw Norris’s facemask make contact with Carter’s midsection, causing Norris’s head to snap backward sharply. Medical staff rushed onto the field immediately, and after nearly 20 minutes of treatment, he was transported by ambulance to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta.
The Lions later released a statement confirming Norris was in stable condition and had feeling and movement in all extremities. He will remain hospitalized 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,” the team said.
Players and Coaches Unite in Concern
The mood on the field shifted dramatically after the injury. When play briefly resumed, Falcons quarterback Emory Jones took a snap but held the ball as players on both teams stood motionless at the line of scrimmage while the clock ran.
With 6:31 remaining, officials announced that the game was suspended “per New York.” Lions coach Dan Campbell said the decision to end the game was mutual between himself and Falcons coach Raheem Morris.
“We’re just praying for Mo and ask that everybody prays for him,” Campbell said, adding that Norris’s mother was with him at the hospital. “Raheem Morris is a class act. He’s the ultimate class act. We agreed it just didn’t feel right to finish that game.”
Morris echoed that sentiment, calling it “common courtesy” under the circumstances. “It was tough for the other team to see getting a teammate hurt that way,” Morris said. “It was the right thing to do for Dan, his crew, and his team.”
Players React to Scary Scene
Lions quarterback Kyle Allen said the gravity of the situation was clear from the start.
“Usually you see a couple trainers out there. It’s never good when they bring out the stretchers. We just started praying for him,” Allen said.
Allen described the injury as a reminder of football’s inherent risks.
“You sign up for football and you understand the injury risk. You never think something like that is going to happen… At the end of the day, we’re all football players. We may be on 32 different teams, but we’ve all been through it.”
Allen added that no one on the Lions’ sideline wanted to continue the game, even before the official announcement.
Precedents for Ending Games Early
Though stopping a game before the final whistle is rare, the NFL has faced similar scenarios in recent years, especially during preseason. In August 2023, New England’s preseason game at Green Bay was called off after Patriots cornerback Isaiah Bolden collided with a teammate and was carted off. Bolden was released from the hospital the next day.
A week later, a Dolphins-Jaguars preseason game ended early when Miami receiver Daewood Davis was carted off following a hit while attempting to make a catch. Davis also recovered and left the hospital within 24 hours.
These incidents occurred months after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s January 2023 cardiac arrest during a regular-season game in Cincinnati. Hamlin was resuscitated on the field and made a full return to football the following season.
Looking Ahead
Norris, a former Fresno State standout listed as Detroit’s second-team safety, was entering the season competing for a role in the Lions’ secondary. The team did not provide a timetable for his recovery, but Campbell emphasized that player health will remain the priority.
As the NFL preseason continues, the league’s recent history of high-profile in-game medical emergencies underscores the importance of rapid-response protocols and player safety measures. For Norris and his teammates, the night’s events were a stark reminder that in football, solidarity often means knowing when to walk away from competition to stand by one another.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.