Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris is in stable condition after being taken off the field in an ambulance during Friday night’s preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons. The game was called off with just over six minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The Lions said Norris, 24, has movement and feeling in all extremities and will remain overnight at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta 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’s statement read.
Norris was injured early in the fourth quarter while attempting to tackle Falcons running back Nathan Carter. After the collision, medical staff attended to him for about 20 minutes before he was placed on a stretcher and transported from the field. Lions coach Dan Campbell said Norris’ mother was with him at the hospital and asked fans to keep him in their prayers.
When play briefly resumed, both teams lined up but stood still as the clock ran down. Minutes later, officials announced the game’s suspension “per New York.” Detroit led 17-10 at the time.
Norris, a former Fresno State player listed as Detroit’s second-team safety, took the hit with his facemask to Carter’s midsection, snapping his head back.
The incident is the latest in a series of preseason games in recent years halted due to serious injuries — including Patriots cornerback Isaiah Bolden’s collision in 2023 and Dolphins receiver Daewood Davis’ injury the same year. It also echoes the high-profile case of Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who went into cardiac arrest during a 2023 regular season game but made a full return to the NFL.
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