Detroit Lions player, Morice Norris, is breathing and conscious after suffering a scary head injury during Friday night’s NFL preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons that led to the game being suspended in the fourth quarter.
Norris went down with 14:50 remaining while attempting to bring down Falcons running back Nathan Carter. The impact left Norris on the turf, and medical personnel quickly rushed to his aid.
For approximately 20 minutes, trainers and team doctors worked on him, with teammates from both sides taking a knee in silence. Eventually, an ambulance was brought onto the field to transport him. There was no immediate update from the Lions regarding his condition.
When play resumed, the mood was clearly subdued. Falcons quarterback Emory Jones took a snap but simply held the ball as players from both teams stood still at the line of scrimmage, allowing the clock to run. At 6:31 remaining, officials announced that the game had been suspended “per New York,” effectively ending the contest with the Lions ahead 17-10.
Before the injury, Detroit had been navigating an important preseason storyline — the battle for the backup quarterback position. Hendon Hooker, who has been in contention for the role, was given the start and expected to play the entire first half. But the opportunity slipped away quickly.
On the Lions’ opening drive, Hooker lost a fumble that killed the series. In the second quarter, another fumble ended another promising possession. After the second turnover, head coach Dan Campbell made the decision to pull Hooker and hand the offense over to veteran Kyle Allen.
Allen wasted no time making his case for the No. 2 job. He launched a 68-yard completion to wide receiver Jackson Meeks, putting Detroit deep in Falcons territory. Moments later, he connected with rookie receiver Isaac TeSlaa for an 11-yard touchdown. TeSlaa, a rookie from Arkansas, showcased his 6-foot-4 frame to leap over Falcons defensive back Dee Alford for the score.
Allen later added another touchdown pass, showing poise and precision in a high-pressure preseason audition. His performance was a stark contrast to Hooker’s struggles and could weigh heavily on Campbell’s depth chart decisions in the coming weeks.
On the Falcons’ side, head coach Raheem Morris opted to rest both starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and veteran backup Kirk Cousins. That opened the door for Easton Stick, who made the most of his opportunity. Stick completed 15 of 18 passes for 159 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown strike to Chris Blair late in the first half.
Emory Jones took over in the second half but was limited in opportunities due to the shortened game.
Several high-profile rookies saw action on both sides. For Atlanta, edge rusher Jalon Walker made his preseason debut after missing the early part of training camp with a hamstring injury. He was joined in the starting lineup by fellow first-round pick James Pearce Jr. The Falcons are counting on Walker, Pearce, and veteran Leonard Floyd to overhaul a pass rush that finished 31st in the league in sacks last season.
Detroit also got a look at its top draft selections — defensive lineman Tyleik Williams and right guard Tate Rutledge. Both are expected to play key roles this year. However, the Lions’ defense will have to adapt quickly following the loss of second-year cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr., who was placed on injured reserve Thursday with a season-ending shoulder injury.
The Lions return home next Saturday, August 16, for their third preseason game against the Miami Dolphins. The Falcons will remain in Atlanta, preparing for another home game against the Tennessee Titans next Friday following a week of joint practices.
While the scoreboard will show a Lions win, the game will be remembered far more for the moment when football stopped and concern for a fallen player took center stage. For both teams, the hope now is that Morice Norris’s recovery will be swift and complete — because in moments like these, the sport itself fades into the background.