Injured Ex-Bulldog Morice Norris Now in Stable State; NFL Exhibition Game Concludes Due to Incident
Morice Norris, a former Bulldog from Fresno State, suffered a serious neck and head injury during the Detroit Lions' preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons on August 8, 2025. The game was suspended "per New York" as Norris was immobilized and taken off the field by ambulance and transported to Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta for observation.
The injury occurred during the fourth quarter while Norris was trying to tackle Falcons' running back Nathan Carter. The incident involved a violent hyperextension of his neck and a compression impact to his spine, causing a brief seizure-like episode on the field. Experts described the mechanism as a high-risk position typical of serious cervical spine trauma.
Despite the severity of the injury, Norris has since provided a positive health update, indicating he was "all good" in communication with teammates and on social media. Former medical professionals associated with the Lions have commented that his prognosis looks good, noting his responsiveness and treatment. As of the latest updates on August 9, 2025, Norris is stable and recovering in hospital. The Lions have indicated they will provide further information following ongoing evaluation.
Norris, who went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, was named Second Team All-Mountain West in 2023 while playing for the Fresno State Bulldogs. He started in 13 games during his senior year. The Lions signed him to their active roster last December.
The game resumed with Falcons quarterback Emory Jones holding the ball. The Associated Press and ESPN contributed to this report. The Lions have confirmed that Norris has feeling and movement in all his extremities, adding that he is in stable condition. The NFL and the Lions are yet to announce any official updates regarding the timeline or certainty of Norris's return to NFL play, but the initial medical outlook is cautiously optimistic.
- The violent hyperextension of Norris's neck during a tackle in American-football, specifically football in the National Football League (NFL), resulted in serious cervical spine trauma, reminiscent of high-risk positions common in such sports.
- Despite the gravity of his injury, Norris, who previously played for the Fresno State Bulldogs, has shown signs of recovery, with the Lions medical team commenting on his responsiveness and stable condition, following the unfortunate incident in a preseason NFL game.
