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Marc Raimondi
ATLANTA — A preseason sport between the Lions and Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was suspended within the fourth quarter Friday night time after Detroit security Morice Norris was taken off the sector in an ambulance.
Norris was injured whereas trying to sort out Atlanta rookie Nathan Carter with 14:50 to go. Norris hit Carter together with his face masks dealing with the working again’s midsection, and the defender’s head snapped again after making the hit.
He was transported to Atlanta’s Grady Memorial Hospital and is in secure situation, the Lions stated in an announcement, with “feeling and motion in all his extremities.”
“We want to thank the Atlanta Falcons group, the EMS group at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the medical doctors and employees at Grady for his or her help,” the Lions stated, noting Norris would stay hospitalized in a single day for statement.
Norris was attended to for about 20 minutes on the sector as gamers from each groups joined fingers in unison. An ambulance drove onto the sector, and Norris was loaded into it on a stretcher.
When play resumed, Falcons quarterback Emory Jones took a snap and held the ball as gamers from each groups stood on the line of scrimmage and the clock continued to run.
With 6:31 left, an official introduced the sport had been suspended “per New York.” The Lions led 17-10 when play was stopped.
Detroit coach Dan Campbell stated it was the coaches’ determination.
“Raheem Morris is the last word class act,” he stated. “We agreed it simply did not really feel proper to complete that sport.”
Lions quarterback Kyle Allen stated it was instantly apparent that the medical personnel noticed this as a severe damage.
“Often, you see a pair trainers on the market,” Allen stated. “It is by no means good after they convey out the stretchers. We simply began praying for him and hoping for the very best.
“When it is taking that lengthy, with that many individuals and that many trainers round him, you are simply hoping for the very best.”
Allen stated the choice to not end the sport was straightforward.
“I do not suppose anybody on that sideline needed to play,” Allen stated. “We weren’t a part of that call, however you may simply look in everybody’s eyes and see it wasn’t price it.”
Falcons large receiver Casey Washington stated it was clear that he and his Atlanta teammates did not wish to play the remainder of the exhibition both.
“That is any person’s life, and that is larger than soccer,” Washington stated.
Norris, 24, initially joined the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2024 out of Fresno State. He frolicked on Detroit’s observe squad earlier than becoming a member of the energetic roster final season and showing in two video games. He was re-signed in January.
Campbell stated Norris had his mom, Francina Nice, with him on the hospital.
“It is an eye-opener. It hits somewhat completely different,” Campbell stated. “It places issues in perspective. And I will let you know what, man, it is a violent sport and we like it. And when one thing like this occurs, the silver lining is … the brotherhood. I imply, to see all these guys from that group, our group form of come collectively and everyone’s fascinated by one other participant simply means rather a lot.”
“I do not suppose anybody on that sideline needed to play. We weren’t a part of that call, however you may simply look in everybody’s eyes and see it wasn’t price it.”
Lions quarterback Kyle Allen
Morris stated he spoke together with his gamers after the sport about what occurred.
“You look of their eyes, and also you noticed it, and also you get a chance to handle the group and discuss your prayers and your ideas for Mo and his household,” Morris stated. “And also you discuss [the players] and their households and their well-being and all of the issues that we have been part of collectively. It was fairly easy to speak about these issues with these guys.”
In August 2023, two preseason video games had been stopped prematurely in consecutive weeks due to accidents.
New England‘s sport at Inexperienced Bay was referred to as off when Patriots cornerback Isaiah Bolden was carted off within the fourth quarter. Bolden appeared to collide with teammate Calvin Munson whereas trying to make successful on a cross completion to Malik Heath of the Packers. Bolden was taken to a hospital and launched the following day.
Per week later, a sport between Miami and Jacksonville was not accomplished after Dolphins large receiver Daewood Davis was carted off within the fourth quarter. Davis was harm when he was hit by Jaguars linebacker Dequan Jackson whereas trying to catch a cross. Davis was launched from the hospital a day later.
The 2 scary accidents occurred after Buffalo Payments security Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and needed to be resuscitated on the sector throughout a regular-season sport in Cincinnati in January 2023. Hamlin resumed soccer the next season and spent final yr as a Payments starter.
ESPN’s Eric Woodyard and The Related Press contributed to this report.
