NFL preseason game ends early after player carried from field in ambulance

Unifying behind a message “bigger than football,” NFL teams offered a “lesson in humanity” with their response to an on-field injury requiring hospitalization.

Friday in Atlanta, Georgia, the hometown Falcons faced off against the Detroit Lions for a preseason matchup that came to a premature end. Only seconds after the fourth quarter had begun, 24-year-old visiting cornerback Morice Norris took a blow to the head that triggered visible convulsions as players and fans prayerfully stood by.

Varied angles of the play showed as Norris appeared to take a knee to the head, sending him spinning 180 degrees before coming to a stop on his side, where emergency workers rushed to assess his injuries.

Morice Norris injury video full sequence
-Knee to side of head. Unconscious and fencing immediately.
-Seizure activity seen in legs a few seconds later. Falcons trainers probably saw it right away.
-Taken off in ambulance pic.twitter.com/FkYsbDxAQR

— Jimmy Liao MD | Detroit Lions Morning Rounds (@JimmyLiaoMD) August 9, 2025

prayers up for Lions Cornerback Morice Norris who suffered a head injury against the falcons in a preseason game. #lions #falcons #preseason pic.twitter.com/721Stwy4a6

— eagles (@jalenhurtsish1m) August 9, 2025

The decision was made to summon an ambulance to rush the player to the hospital at which point his teammates had gathered to see him off the field. It was then that a show of unity took place at midfield when play resumed.

After fielding the snap, Falcons quarterback Emory Jones was joined by players from both teams in a circle at the line of scrimmage where they appeared to take part in a prayer for Norris. The decision to stop play saw the clock wind down to 6:31 left in the quarter before the game was officially suspended.

This is genuinely the classiest thing I’ve ever seen during a football game

Both teams agreeing to run out the clock completely out of respect for Morice Norris

pic.twitter.com/SRP3ir7PTs

— (@the_det_times) August 9, 2025

After Lions safety Morice Norris was taken off the field in an ambulance, both the Falcons and Lions players gathered in a circle on the field and let the clock run out.

The game was officially suspended. pic.twitter.com/duiE4cW0Y4

— TSN (@TSN_Sports) August 9, 2025

Speaking about the 2024 undrafted free agent from Fresno State during the postgame press conference, Lions head coach Dan Campbell, who’d been seen taking a knee on the sideline, asked for continued prayers as he gave an update on Norris.

“He’s breathing, he’s talking. It’s good. He’s got some movement. And now they’re running more tests,” he told reporters before he referred to Falcons head coach Raheem Morris as “the ultimate class act” regarding their agreement to end the game early.

An emotional Dan Campbell meets with the media after the Lions-Falcons game was suspended due to Lions safety Morice Norris being taken off the field in an ambulance.

Campbell notes that Norris is breathing, talking, and had some movement. #NFL pic.twitter.com/hnKGyibCId

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 9, 2025

Similar to his coach’s remarks about the “violent game,” Lions quarterback Kyle Allen had said of the tragic incident, “It’s a terrible game sometimes.”

“I don’t think anyone on that sideline wanted to play. We weren’t part of that decision, but you could just look in everyone’s eyes and see it wasn’t worth it,” added the player.

Later Friday night, the Lions provided an update on the condition of Norris and expressed their gratitude for everyone involved in seeing to his care. The statement read, “Morice Norris is in stable condition and has feeling and movement in all his extremities. He will remain at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta overnight for observation. We would like to thank the Atlanta Falcons organization, the EMS team at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the doctors and staff at Grady for their support.”

In their own statement, the Falcons shared the moment of unity on the field that had fans echoing “bigger than football” and expressed, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Morice Norris, his family, and the Lions organization.”

Morice Norris is in stable condition and has feeling and movement in all his extremities. He will remain at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta overnight for observation.

We would like to thank the Atlanta Falcons organization, the EMS team at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the…

— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 9, 2025

Our thoughts and prayers are with Morice Norris, his family, and the Lions organization pic.twitter.com/XySrJKQhzG

— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) August 9, 2025

It’s bigger than football pic.twitter.com/vpTK0O4yJX

— J4YExclus1ve (@254MVP) August 9, 2025

Life is always bigger than football.

— cavalryman40 (@realFishchaser) August 9, 2025

I understand there’s a lot of discussion happening right now but really it’s pretty simple to me.
This is much, much bigger than football.
These people are HUMAN BEINGS and what happened tonight is really scary. Hoping for the best news possible.

— Maria Martin (@Ria_Martin) August 9, 2025

Staff Writer

Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn’t researching current events and their impacts, you’ll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.

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