ATLANTA -- Detroit safety Morice Norris was attended to for about 20 minutes and taken off the field in an ambulance during the Lions' preseason game Friday night against Atlanta, with the game ending with 6:31 to go after the players let the clock run.
Norris was hurt with 14:50 to go trying to tackle Atlanta running back Nathan Carter.
"We're just praying for Mo and ask that everybody prays for him," said Lions Coach Dan Campbell, who said he had "positive information" from hospital.
"He's breathing. He's talking. He has some movement," Campbell added.
Norris, listed as Detroit's second-team safety, suffered the injury when trying to tackle Carter, an Atlanta rookie.
Norris hit Carter with his facemask facing the running back's midsection, and his head snapped back after making the hit.
Lions quarterback Kyle Allen said it was immediately obvious the medical personnel saw this as a serious injury.
"Usually you see a couple trainers out there," Allen said. "It's never good when they bring out the stretchers. We just started praying for him and hoping for the best.
"When it's taking that long, with that many people and that many trainers around him, you're just hoping for the best."
Added Allen: "It's just awful. ... You sign up for football and you understand the risk, you understand the injury risk. You never think something like that is going to happen.
"At the end of the day we're all out here as football players. We may be on 32 different teams but we've all played football our whole lives and had our own injuries and been through it."
When play resumed, Falcons quarterback Emory Jones took a snap and then held the ball as players from both teams stood at the line of scrimmage and the clock continued to run. Finally, with 6:31 left, an official announced the game had been suspended "per New York."
The Lions led 17-10 when played was stopped.
Earlier, Hendon Hooker lost two fumbles in a start that did not last as long as expected, hurting his hopes to win Detroit's backup quarterback job as Kyle Allen threw two touchdown passes to lead the Lions.
Hooker started and was expected to play the full first half. Instead, he lost a fumble on Detroit's opening drive and then lost another fumble in the second quarter. Coach Campbell immediately turned to Allen.
Allen responded by completing a 68-yard pass to Jackson Meeks before throwing an 11-yard touchdown pass to Isaac TeSlaa, a rookie from Arkansas who took advantage of his 6-4 frame to make the leaping catch over Atlanta nickel back Dee Alford.
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The Falcons held out starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and backup Kirk Cousins. Easton Stick made a strong bid to win the No. 3 job by completing 15 of 18 passes for 159 yards, including a 13-yard scoring pass to Chris Blair late in the first half.
Emory Jones played the second half for Atlanta.
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Falcons rookie edge rusher Jalon Walker, who returned to practice on Monday after missing much of the opening week of training camp with a minor hamstring injury, started. Atlanta's other first-round pick, edge rusher James Pearce Jr., also started.
Walker, Pearce and veteran Leonard Floyd are expected to boost a pass rush that finished 31st in sacks last season.
Detroit's top two draft picks, defensive lineman Tyleik Williams and right guard Tate Rutledge, also played.
The Lions' defense is adjusting after second-year cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr. was placed on injured reserve on Thursday with a season-ending shoulder injury.
Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris (26) is hit in the helmet by Atlanta Falcons running back Nathan Carter (38) during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris (26) is hit in the helmet by Atlanta Falcons running back Nathan Carter (38) during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Medical personnel aid Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris (26) after he was injured against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Medical personnel aid Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris (26) after he was injured against the Atlanta Falcons during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Detroit Lions players stand on the field after safety Morice Norris was injured during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Detroit Lions players stand on the field after safety Morice Norris was injured during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Atlanta Falcons Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions players stand on the field hand in hand together after Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris was injured during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions players stand on the field hand in hand together after Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris was injured during the second half of an NFL preseason football game Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)