Lions-Falcons Preseason Ends Early After Morice Norris Injury/ TezzBuzz/ 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.
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.
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.
Lions quarterback Kyle Allen said the gravity of the situation was clear from the start.
Allen described the injury as a reminder of football’s inherent risks.
Allen added that no one on the Lions’ sideline wanted to continue the game, even before the official announcement.
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.
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.
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