Rapid Rewind: Norris in stable condition with movement in all extremities after injury halts Lions game in Atlanta

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Suddenly, the game no longer mattered.

Despite dozens of players for both the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons battling for their livelihoods Friday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, everything came to a standstill when Lions safety Morice Norris’ body went limp after his head and neck snapped back while making a tackle early in the fourth quarter.

The game was halted for more than a dozen minutes as Norris’ neck was stabilized, he was loaded onto a stretcher and then into an ambulance.

Norris was taken to a local hospital for further testing. Coach Dan Campbell offered what little information he could in the postgame press conference.

“He's breathing, he's talking,” Campbell said. “That's good. He's got some movement. Now, they're running more tests.”

Less than two hours later, the Lions provided a promising update on Norris’ condition.

"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."

In a surreal moment, when play resumed following the injury, the Falcons snapped the ball and allowed more than seven minutes to run off the clock as players on both sides gathered in a circle and prayed before the officiating crew announced the game was being suspended with 6:19 remaining.

“(Falcons coach) Raheem Morris is a class act,” Campbell said. “He's the ultimate class act. We agreed that it just didn't feel right to finish that game. That man is a class act, always has been.”

Campbell asked for prayers for Norris multiple times during the three-minute session. He noted members of the team's staff, potentially even some teammates, would stay in Atlanta to support the second-year defender. Additionally, the injured player’s mother was in town for the game, so she was able to be with her son at the hospital.

For what little it’s worth, the contest ended with the Lions holding a 17-10 lead, thanks to a pair of Kyle Allen touchdown tosses.

Starters

Defense: Al-Quadian Muhammad, Chris Smith, Tyleik Williams, Keith Cooper, Trevor Nowaski, Zach Cunningham, Grant Stuard, Dicaprio Bootle, Rock Ya-Sin (at safety), Ian Kennelly, Erick Hallett

Offense: Hendon Hooker, Craig Reynolds, Tom Kennedy, Jackson Meeks, Isaac TeSlaa, Shane Zylstra, Giovani Manu, Kayode Awosika, Trystan Colon, Tate Ratledge, Mason Miller

Game ball

Allen came off the bench to relieve Hooker in the second quarter, stating a strong case for Detroit’s backup quarterback job by completing 7-of-8 for 120 yards and two touchdowns.

Scoring summary

First quarter

● 8:25 — Taking over in Lions territory after recovering a fumble, the Falcons shot themselves in the foot with a holding call, leaving the home team to settle for a 57-yard field goal off the foot of Lenny Craig. FALCONS 3, LIONS 0

Second quarter

● 2:23 — Replacing Hooker earlier than expected, Allen flourished during his first possession at quarterback. Overcoming a holding infraction, the veteran quarterback hit Meeks on a deep shot down the middle for 68 yards. Three plays later, facing third-and-2 from Atlanta’s 11-yard line, Allen dropped a pretty slot fade into the waiting arms of TeSlaa for the go-ahead score. LIONS 7. FALCONS 3

● 0:34 — The Falcons put together an impressive two-minute drive with quarterback Easton Stick completing all six of his throws for 70 yards, capping the series with a 13-yard scoring toss to receiver Chris Blair, besting the coverage of Erick Hallet. FALCONS 10, LIONS 7

Third quarter

● 11:48 — Allen leads the Lions to more points with a third-down conversion that had a roughing-the-passer penalty tacked on to Ronnie Bell’s 14-yard catch. The drive stalled when Allen overthrew Malik Taylor on a deep shot, but Jake Bates came through with a 57-yard field goal to knot things up. LIONS 10, FALCONS 10

0:42 — Taking over at their own 43 after the Falcons missed a field goal, the Lions marched 57 yards on 11 plays to retake the lead. Running back Jacob Saylors was the focal point during the series. He touched the ball on each of the first five snaps, gaining 25 yards with four carries and another 8 yards via a screen pass.

A fourth-down conversion by Saylors deep in the red zone set up a 1-yard touchdown toss from Allen to Meeks. LIONS 17, FALCONS 10

Turnovers

● 11:03, first quarter — Feeling pressure prematurely on a third-down snap, Hooker attempted to scramble up the middle and had the ball knocked free by former Lions linebacker Josh Woods. The fumble was recovered by cornerback Dee Alford.

● 9:46, second quarter — After leading the Lions into the red zone with a fourth-down conversion, Hooker lost a second fumble when he was stripped in the pocket by defensive end Arnold Ebiketie, who blew past Miller, the right tackle.

Key stats

● Hooker completed 7-of-10 throws for 38 yards, without a touchdown or an interception. He also ran for 27 yards on three scrambles, but his night was marred by the two lost fumbles.

● Saylors paced the Lions with 35 yards on nine carries. Reynolds, the starter, chipped in 15 yards on six carries. He briefly exited the game to be evaluated for injury after getting blown up on a wheel route. A flag was thrown for unnecessary roughness on the play.

● Fueled by his 68-yard catch, Meeks led the Lions with 78 yards on three receptions. Five others caught at least two passes.

● Muhammad and Nate Lynn recorded Detroit’s two sacks.

Other injuries

● Detroit’s offensive tackle depth took another hit during pre-game warmups when Justin Herron was taken to the locker room with his right arm in an air cast.

● Colon, who got the start at center, exited with an arm injury in the second quarter after taking a big hit from a stunting Falcons defensive lineman.

Next game

The Lions return home to continue the preseason against the Miami Dolphins. The teams will meet at Ford Field next Saturday at 1 p.m. after conducting a pair of joint practices at the Lions’ practice facility in Allen Park on Wednesday and Thursday.