Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris was in a stable condition after a frightening tackle during Friday night's pre-season game against the Atlanta Falcons, which was suspended with 6:31 left on the clock.
Norris, 24, was hurt with 14:50 remaining in the fourth quarter while attempting to tackle Falcons running back Nathan Carter. He received medical attention for about 20 minutes before being taken off the field on a stretcher and transported to hospital.
The Lions confirmed Norris has feeling and movement in all his extremities and will remain at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta overnight for observation. Head coach Dan Campbell said: "We're just praying for Mo and ask that everybody prays for him," adding that Norris's mother was with him.
Quarterback Kyle Allen said the seriousness of the injury was clear from the response of medical staff. "It's just awful. You sign up for football and you understand the risk... You never think something like that is going to happen." Play briefly resumed but was then halted, with Campbell and Falcons coach Raheem Morris agreeing not to continue.
Morris said it was "common courtesy" to end the game, while Allen said no one on either sideline wanted to play on. The incident drew parallels to two pre-season games in August 2023 that were also called off after serious injuries, and to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin's on-field cardiac arrest in January 2023.
