In the fourth quarter of a preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris was taken off the field in an ambulance after colliding with running back Nate Carter.
It appeared Norris’ head made contact with Carter’s knee. The backboard and cart was brought out immediately, and players from both teams took a knee while bowing their heads. When play resumed, the Falcons snapped the ball, but neither team took part in the play, draining the clock for approximately eight minutes until the officials announced the game was suspended.
The Lions broadcast said Norris “was indeed blinking his eyes,” while getting loaded into the ambulance. He was transported to a local hospital for further evaluation, per the Lions.
“He’s breathing. He’s talking. That’s good. He’s got some movement,” Lions coach Dan Campbell said after the game. “And now they’re running more tests.”
Campbell also said Norris’ mother was with him at the hospital.
Players from both teams held hands and appeared to pray on the field while the clock ran.
“It’s just an eye-opener. It hits, you know? It hits a little different. It puts things in perspective,” Campbell added. “I’ll tell you what — man, it’s a violent game, and we love it. But when something like this happens, the silver-lining is the brotherhood. To see all those guys from that team, our team, kind of come together and everybody is thinking about another player, it just means a lot.”
Lions sideline reporter Dannie Rogers, before the game was officially called, described Detroit’s sideline: “A lot of Morice Norris’ teammates (are) hanging their heads, sitting on the bench. Some emotionless, some really emotional like defensive back Rock Ya-Sin and defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend, who walked off the field after Coach Campbell’s huddle at midfield with tears in his eyes. A lot of these coaches and players, you can tell they’d like to get off this field and go home and probably get an update on their teammate.”
Norris, 24, signed with the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2024. The Fresno State product played in three games last season, including a playoff appearance.
Originally Published: August 8, 2025 at 10:51 PM EDT