ATLANTA (AP) — Detroit security Morice Norris was attended to for about 20 minutes and brought off the sector in an ambulance through the Lions’ preseason sport Friday night time in opposition to Atlanta, with the sport ending with 6:31 to go after the gamers let the clock run.
Norris was harm with 14:50 to go attempting to sort out Atlanta working again Nathan Carter.
“We’re simply praying for Mo and ask that everyone prays for him,” mentioned Lions coach Dan Campbell, who mentioned he had “optimistic info” from hospital.
“He’s respiratory. He’s speaking. He has some motion,” Campbell added.
Norris, listed as Detroit’s second-team security, suffered the harm when attempting to sort out Carter, an Atlanta rookie.
Norris hit Carter along with his facemask going through the working again’s midsection, and his head snapped again after making the hit.
Lions quarterback Kyle Allen mentioned it was instantly apparent the medical personnel noticed this as a severe harm.
“Normally you see a pair trainers on the market,” Allen mentioned. “It’s by no means good once they carry out the stretchers. We simply began praying for him and hoping for one of the best.
“When it’s taking that lengthy, with that many individuals and that many trainers round him, you’re simply hoping for one of the best.”
Added Allen: “It’s simply terrible. … You join soccer and also you perceive the chance, you perceive the harm threat. You by no means suppose one thing like that’s going to occur.
“On the finish of the day we’re all out right here as soccer gamers. We could also be on 32 totally different groups however we’ve all performed soccer our complete lives and had our personal accidents and been via it.”
When play resumed, Falcons quarterback Emory Jones took a snap after which held the ball as gamers from each groups stood on the line of scrimmage and the clock continued to run. Lastly, with 6:31 left, an official introduced the sport had been suspended “per New York.”
The Lions led 17-10 when performed was stopped.
Campbell and Falcons coach Raheem Morris made the choice to not end the sport.
“Raheem Morris is a category act,” Campbell mentioned. “He’s the last word class act. We agreed it simply didn’t really feel proper to complete that sport.”
Allen mentioned the choice to not end the sport was simple to make.
“I don’t suppose anybody on that sideline needed to play,” Allen mentioned. “We weren’t a part of that call however you would look in anybody’s eyes and see that.”
