Football player Morice Norris from the Lions is transported via ambulance from the preseason game due to a head injury caused by a impact.
Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris, who joined the team as an undrafted free agent in 2024 from Fresno State, took a hard shot to the head during a preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons. The incident occurred with 14:50 remaining in the game, leaving players and coaches on both teams shaken.
Lions quarterback Kyle Allen expressed his prayers for Norris, stating that the game was not worth playing after the incident. When play resumed, Falcons quarterback Emory Jones took a snap and held the ball as players from both teams stood at the line of scrimmage, and the clock continued to run.
Coach Dan Campbell of the Lions reported that Norris is breathing, talking, and has some movement after the incident. Norris was attended to for approximately 20 minutes before being taken off the field in an ambulance. There was no immediate report on the extent of Norris' injury, and further tests will be conducted to assess the situation.
Meanwhile, in a separate development, Arch Manning, the highly-touted quarterback prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft, is expected to return to play for Texas for at least one more college season. Archie Manning, the family patriarch, has unequivocally stated that Arch "isn't going to do that" (skip the draft), and "He'll be at Texas" for the 2026 season.
This aligns with the Manning family tradition, as both Peyton and Eli Manning stayed all four college years before entering the NFL. NFL draft insiders and analysts, including Todd McShay, reinforce that the Manning family prioritizes being fully prepared and committed to finishing the college career before making the pro leap.
The Texas program and those close to it have a general feeling and optimism that Arch will build on his limited college experience (only 95 passes and two starts so far) before entering the NFL. Even among speculations in early mock drafts projecting Arch Manning going No. 1 in 2026, the prevailing expert opinion and family statements indicate he will remain at Texas to continue developing before going pro.
In reporting this story, we would like to acknowledge the contributions of Jackson Thompson, a sports writer for Digital. Thompson, who previously worked for ESPN and Business Insider, has covered the Super Bowl, NBA Finals, and interviewed several iconic figures, including Usain Bolt, Rob Gronkowski, Jerry Rice, Troy Aikman, Mike Trout, David Ortiz, and Roger Clemens.
The Associated Press also contributed to the report about Morice Norris' injury. The game between the Detroit Lions and Atlanta Falcons ended with 6:31 to go after the players let the clock run, with the Lions leading 17-10 at the time play was stopped. An official announced the game had been suspended "per New York."
Sports analysts mourned the incident involving Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris, who sustained a hard hit to the head during a preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons. While players resumed the game out of respect for Norris, his condition remains uncertain, with further tests needed to assess the severity of his injury. Meanwhile, Arch Manning, a highly-touted quarterback prospect for the 2026 NFL Draft, is expected to return to play for Texas for at least one more college season, following in the footsteps of his family's tradition of committing to a full college career before entering the NFL. These events once again highlight the importance of player safety in American football, a matter of great concern for sports enthusiasts and experts alike.
