Sure, it’s the preseason, but there’s no half speed in football. 

Even though it doesn’t count for official wins and losses, every player on the field is still trying to make an impact. Last night, however, served as a humble reminder of how dangerous the game can be. 

The Lions-Falcons preseason game ended early after safety Morice Norris left the field in an ambulance. Detroit led 17-10 at the start of the fourth quarter. Falcons were driving down the field when Norris attempted to bring down Atlanta running back Nathan Carter with a low tackle. 

Norris, leading head first, made hard contact with Carter’s lower midsection. The force of the impact sent Norris’ head back awkwardly. He was seen motionless on the field immediately following the hit. 

Play stopped for around 20 minutes as medical personnel tended to Norris. Players from both teams huddled together, kneeling, and praying for their injured companion. Norris was eventually put on a stretcher and driven off the field in an ambulance. 

When the game finally did resume, the Falcons snapped the ball, but did not run a play, allowing the clock to run down–a decision agreed upon by coaches from both teams. Finally, with six and a half minutes left to play, an official announcement was made that the game had been suspended. 

Lions head coach Dan Campbell spoke post-game about the positive takeaways. 

“I’ll tell you what…man it’s a violent game, and we love it,” he shared. “But when something like this happens, the silver lining is the brotherhood. I mean to see all those guys–from their team, from our team–come together.. and everybody’s thinking about another player. It just means a lot.”

The Lions have since released an update on Norris, saying he’s in stable condition and has feeling and movement in his arms and legs. He’s expected to stay at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta at least through the night for observation. 

The Lions originally signed the 24-year-old as an undrafted free agent in 2024. Starting on the practice squad, he eventually saw playing time in two games last season before re-signing with the team in January. 

The Lions’ next preseason game is Saturday, August 16, against the Miami Dolphins.

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