Morice Norris injury: NFL suspends Detroit Lions vs. Atlanta Falcons game after scary injury

The NFL suspended the preseason showdown between the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons on Friday after Lions cornerback Morice Norris suffered an injury in the fourth quarter and was taken off the field in an ambulance. After the game concluded, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris discussed the decision to cut the contest short.

“It was tough to watch, it was tough for the other team to see, gettin a teammate hurt that way,” Raheem Morris said. “It was the right thing to do for Dan and his team, and everything they had going on. I thought it was the right thing (to do)… It was just common ground, common courtesy. Just didn’t like the look of it.”

The injury occurred with 14:12 left in the fourth quarter. While a medical team tended to Norris, Falcons and Lions players gathered at midfield and prayed together. The clock ran while the two teams met. The game was officially called rom the New York field offices with 6:33 remaining in the fourth quarter.

Norris suffered the injury when he attempted to tackle Falcons running back Nathan Carter. Norris’ helmet connected with Carter’s knee and his body immediately went stiff. His legs began to spasm shortly after the collision.

Norris finished the game with three tackles. The Lions led 17-10 when the game was suspended. Detroit rattled off 17 unanswered points after Atlanta took a 3-0 lead in the first quarter.

Despite the Lions’ lead, they were had far from a perfect performance. The team committed two turnovers, both of which were fumbles. In contrast, the Falcons didn’t commit any turnovers and recorded fewer penalties. After the game, Lions head coach Dan Campbell provided an update on Norris.

“Some positive information on him. He’s at the hospital. I’ll have to just leave it at that,” Campbell said. “But, when something like that happens, it puts things in perspective. So, just praying for Mo. I ask that everybody prays for him.”

Morice Norris appeared in just two games last season as a rookie. He was an undrafted free agent in 2024. He spent two years at Fresno State after beginning his collegiate career at the junior college level.

With Fresno State, Norris logged 116 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks, along with two interceptions. As a senior in 2023, Norris notched 59 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and two interceptions. For his efforts, he was named an All-Mountain West Second-Team selection.