THE NFL preseason game between the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons was abandoned in the fourth quarter on Friday night following an injury to Morice Norris.
Lions safety Norris was taken off the field in an ambulance with 14 minutes and 50 seconds left on the clock in the fourth quarter when he was injured while attempting to tackle Atlanta rookie Nathan Carter.
Morice Norris was taken to hospital after an injury during the Detroit Lions game against the Atlanta Falcons[/caption]
Norris was taken off the field in an ambulance[/caption]
Players on the sidelines took a knee during a 20-minute delay[/caption]
Everyone was concerned for the 24-year-old[/caption]
Norris, 24, was left motionless on the field after he hit Carter with his face mask and snapped his head back.
He was then transported to Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Hospital after the game was stopped for around 20 minutes as an ambulance entered the field.
Players from both teams joined hands on the sidelines during the 20-minute stoppage.
The Lions later gave a positive update that Norris is in a stable condition, but explained he would remain in hospital overnight.
It read: “Morice Norris is in a stable condition and has feeling and movement in all his extremities. He will remain at Grady Memorial Hospital 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”.
When play resumed, Falcons quarterback Emory Jones held the ball and allowed the clock to run after his snap.
Players from both teams stood at the line of scrimmage as the time ticked down.
Players chose not to play after the game restarted[/caption]
Officials decided to bring the game to a premature conclusion[/caption]
The Atlanta Falcons just forfeited a snap which ended in a prayer between the Lions and Falcons
This is after Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris was stretched off after a serious head injury
A moment sports has rarely seen before pic.twitter.com/Y312DxKjNk
— Crunch Time Sports (@officialctpod) August 9, 2025
With just over six and a half minutes remaining, an official announced the game had been suspended with the Lions leading 17-10 at the time.
Lions coach Dan Campbell claimed the decision had been made between him and Falcons coach Raheem Morris.
He said: “Raheem Morris is the ultimate class act. We agreed it just didn’t feel right to finish that game.”
While Detroit quarterback Kyle Allen echoed the sentiment of ending the game early.
He said: “I don’t think anyone on that sideline wanted to play.
“We weren’t part of that decision, but you could just look in everyone’s eyes and see it wasn’t worth it.”
Campbell praised the two teams for coming together in such a difficult moment.
He added: “It’s an eye-opener. It hits a little different. It puts things in perspective.
“And I’ll tell you what, man, it’s a violent game and we love it. And when something like this happens, the silver lining is the brotherhood.
“I mean, to see all those guys from that team, our team kind of come together and everybody’s thinking about another player just means a lot.”
Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell opened up on the injury[/caption]
Lions quarterback Kyle Allen claimed nobody wanted to play after the incident[/caption]
Players embraced one and other in the aftermath[/caption]
