Detroit Lions cornerback Morice Norris was taken off the field in an ambulance after an apparent head injury during a preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday night. Following the injury, which took place early in the fourth quarter, both teams chose to let the clock run out before the referees announced that the game was suspended with 6:31 remaining.
The Lions later announced that Norris had been transported to a local hospital in Atlanta for further evaluation. Lions head coach Dan Campbell told reporters after the game that Norris was breathing, talking and had some movement at the hospital.
Norris went down hard on a tackle after his head appeared to hit the leg of Falcons running back Nathan Carter at the 14:50 mark. Norris was tended to for about 20 minutes before an ambulance came onto the field to take him off. Athletic trainers and medical personnel stabilized Norris on the field, put him on a backboard and braced his head and neck, before loading him into the ambulance.
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Campbell gathered the entire team as Norris was taken off. Detroit and Atlanta then let the clock run. The players on the Falcons’ offense and Lions’ defense stood in a circle with their heads bowed before the referees called the game to an early end.
The officials cited the league in the decision to finish the game before the clock had expired the rest of the way: “Per New York, this game is suspended,” the head referee said, with 6:31 left in the fourth quarter.
The Lions won the game, 17-10.
After the game, Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said on the broadcast that it was a mutual decision to end the game.
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“It was common ground, common courtesy. Didn’t like the look of [the injury],” Morris said. “I thought that was the right thing to do.”
After giving an update on Norris’ condition, Campbell said he was praying for the young defensive back.
“Something like that happens, it puts things in perspective,” Campbell said.
This is Norris’ second season with the Lions. The cornerback signed with the team last year after going undrafted out of Fresno State. He played in two games last season.
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