ATLANTA — Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris was loaded into an ambulance and taken to a local hospital after enduring what appeared to be a serious injury on Friday night in Atlanta, after which the Lions and Atlanta Falcons decided to end the game.
Norris was hurt on the first play of the fourth quarter when he attempted to tackle Atlanta running back Nathan Carter; his head snapped back upon colliding with Carter’s leg.
Players from both teams gathered at midfield, holding hands and watching as medical officials attended to Norris and an ambulance drove onto the field. Several of Norris’ family members came onto the field and, after he was loaded into the ambulance, followed on foot as it drove out of the stadium.
The teams then let the clock run out and the game ended.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell and his players react after Morice Norris was injured Friday night vs. the Falcons. (Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)
There was no immediate word on Norris’ status. However, Lions head coach Dan Campbell said the team received “some positive information” on the safety.
“He’s breathing. He’s talking. He’s got some movement. They are running more tests,” Campbell said. “(Falcons head coach) Raheem Morris is a class act. He is the ultimate class act. We agreed it just didn’t feel right to finish the game. That man is a class act, always has been.”
The scene in Atlanta after Lions DB Morice Norris left the game in an ambulance. Clock continues to run. pic.twitter.com/DrSNy0uTrY
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) August 9, 2025
Campbell said that the decision to let the clock run out on the game was made quickly.
“I told them we are taking knees, they are and we are until this thing is over,” he said. “The kid just wants to get better every day. I don’t even know what else to say. We will have some team members stay back. We have some players who want to see him. I know his mom is with him.”
Dan Campbell on Morice Norris, who left the game in an ambulance.
Some context on the scene that followed as well: pic.twitter.com/EpvCfwvYlG
— Colton Pouncy (@colton_pouncy) August 9, 2025
“It’s just awful,” said Lions quarterback Kyle Allen. “You sign up for football, you understand risk and putting your body on the line, but you never think something like that is going to happen.
“We’ve all played football our whole lives, and when you’re on that field and see that, you understand how dangerous it really is out there. At the end of the day we’re all football players.”
“As soon as it happened, I just took a knee and started praying,” said Falcons receiver Casey Washington. “I know God is watching out for us. I know he’s got a hand on him. I’m praying for his mom and praying for his family.”
Washington talked about the emotional scene on the field.
“Everybody on the sideline was just standing there and the clock continued to go,” he said. “It was tough. All the players were affected by it. We have been playing this game since the age of 5 and to see something like that is tough to see, it’s emotional. God bless him.”
The NFLPA posted a message of support for Norris, as did the Falcons, who wrote: “Our thoughts and prayers are with Morice Norris, his family, and the Lions organization.”
And Terrion Arnold, Norris’ closest friend on the team, offered up an optimistic note on social media, writing simply: “He’s good all glory to God.”
He’s good all glory to God🙏🏾
— Terrion Arnold (@ArnoldTerrion) August 9, 2025
(Top photo of Morice Norris being loaded into an ambulance: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)
