After speaking with Detroit Lions coach Dan Campbell, Atlanta Falcons coach Raheem Morris said the two agreed to end Friday’s preseason game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium following a frightening injury that led to the suspension of play.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Lions defensive back Morice Norris suffered what appeared to be a serious injury while attempting to tackle Falcons running back Nate Carter.
As Norris came downhill from his high safety position, Carter’s leg struck him in the head. Norris lay motionless before medical staff placed him on a backboard and loaded him into an ambulance that had been driven onto the field.
“Obviously, tough situation,” Morris said. “Not much to say, but just thoughts and prayers to Morice Norris and his family, and everybody involved, including my team, and the Lions, and Dan (Campbell’s) team, and everybody that was there watching.”
During the extended stoppage, players from both teams gathered at midfield and knelt in prayer. Morris said addressing his locker room afterward was difficult.
“They’re so emotional about the game, they’re so emotional about what we do, and they were all -- I got a lot of respect for the other players in this game,” Morris said. “And that was the ultimate show of it by the teams right there. And you just got to pray for Morice Norris and his family.”
Morris said the decision to run out the clock and wait for an official league notice before ending the game was mutual between him and Campbell, made out of respect for Norris and his family.
“It’s not a lot of times that happens. I can’t sit here and tell you that I’ve been through a lot of those or seen a lot of those -- I don’t think any of us have,” Morris said. “And that was the moment decision, and it was the right thing to do for our football team and the Lions football team.”
He added that he didn’t consider potential ramifications from ending the game early -- his focus was solely on Norris and those involved.
With 14:50 remaining, Falcons quarterback Emory Jones took a snap and held the ball as both teams stood on the field and interacted until officials called the game with 6:19 left.
Norris had recorded three tackles before the injury, with the Lions leading 17-10.
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