by ATLANTA (AP) — The preseason game stopped early Friday night when Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris was taken off the field in an ambulance after receiving treatment for almost 20 minutes. His status remained stable.
According to a statement from the Lions, Morice Norris is in stable health and can move and feel all of his extremities. He will spend the night under observation at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta. We express our gratitude to the Grady medical personnel and doctors, the EMS crew at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and the Atlanta Falcons organization for their assistance.
With 14:50 remaining, Norris was injured while attempting to tackle running back Nathan Carter. Players from both teams stood at the line of scrimmage as the clock ran out, and Falcons quarterback Emory Jones snapped and held the ball when play restarted.
Finally, with 6:31 remaining and Detroit leading 17–10, an official said the game was suspended in accordance with New York.
Dan Campbell, the coach of the Lions, requested prayers for 24-year-old Norris.
Campbell stated, “We’re just praying for Mo and ask that everyone pray for him.”
According to Campbell, Norris was at the hospital with his mother.
The defender’s head snapped back after Norris, a former Fresno State player who is designated as Detroit’s second-team safety, struck Carter with his facemask facing the running back’s belly.
According to Lions quarterback Kyle Allen, the medical staff recognized this as a significant injury right away.
According to Allen, there are typically a few trainers present. When the stretchers are brought out, it’s never good. We simply began to hope for the best and pray for him. You’re just hoping for the best when it’s taking so long and there are so many people and trainers surrounding him.
Allen added: It’s simply terrible. You are aware of the dangers of playing football, including the possibility of injury. You never imagine that kind of event will occur.
We are all out here as football players at the end of the day. Despite playing for 32 different teams, we have all played football our entire lives, sustained injuries, and experienced it.
Raheem Morris, the coach of the Falcons, and Campbell decided not to play the entire game.
According to Campbell, Raheem Morris is a class act. He is the epitome of class. We both agreed that finishing that game didn’t feel right.
Morris stated that the coaches’ decision to end the game was a matter of common politeness.
Morris claimed it was difficult to watch. Seeing a colleague be harmed in that way was difficult for the other team. I believed that it was the appropriate thing to do for Dan, his team, and his crew, as well as for everything that was going on right there.
You dislike seeing people harmed in any form or through any kind of game. It was a difficult situation for those men, for us, and for everyone else.
Allen claimed that it was simple to decide not to finish the game.
Allen remarked, “I don’t think anyone on that sideline wanted to play.” You might see that by looking into anyone’s eyes, even if we weren’t involved in that decision.
There were two precedents from preseason games in consecutive weeks in August 2023, despite the choice to not finish the game appearing dramatic.
When Patriots cornerback Isaiah Bolden was taken off in the fourth quarter of New England’s 2023 preseason game against Green Bay in Week 2, the game was canceled. While trying to make a contact on a ball completion to the Packers’ Malik Heath, Bolden seemed to run into teammate Calvin Munson.
After being transported to a hospital, Bolden was freed the following day.
Daewood Davis, a receiver for the Dolphins, was carted off during the fourth quarter of a Miami vs. Jacksonville game a week later. While running a slant route and trying to catch a pass, Davis was struck by Jaguars linebacker Dequan Jackson, causing injuries.
A day later, Davis was discharged from the hospital.
Eight months after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a heart collapse and required on-field resuscitation during a regular season game against Cincinnati in January 2023, the two terrifying injuries occurred. After a fantastic recovery, Hamlin returned to football the following season and started for the Bills the previous season.
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This report was written by John Wawrow, an AP Sports Writer.
