DETROIT – Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell spoke Friday after their preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons was suspended due to a serious injury to defensive back Morice Norris.
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READ: Lions’ Morice Norris taken off field in ambulance during preseason game
Norris appeared to get struck in the head while making a tackle on the first play of the fourth quarter. He was down on the field for several minutes before an ambulance came out and took him away.
The two teams ran eight minutes off the clock before the NFL decided to suspend the game with just over six minutes remaining.
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WHAT WE KNOW: Detroit Lions player leaves in ambulance, preseason game ends
Here’s what Campbell said during his postgame briefing.
Update on Morice Norris
“We got some positive information on him, but he’s at the hospital, and I’ll have to just leave it at that, but obviously, something like that happens, it puts things in perspective, so we’re just praying for Mo. I ask that everybody prays for him, you know?
“He’s breathing. He’s breathing, he’s talking. That’s good. He’s got some movement, and now they’re running more tests.”
Decision by both teams to run out the clock
“(Falcons head coach) Raheem Morris is a class act. He’s the ultimate class act, so we agreed that it just didn’t feel right to finish that game, and that man’s a class act. Always has been.”
What it was like for players on sideline
“That’s an eye opener. It’s just an eye opener. It hits, you know? It hits a little different. It puts things in perspective, and I’ll tell you what: It’s a violent game, and we love it, but when something like this happens, the silver lining is the brotherhood. To see all those guys from that team, our team, kind of come together and everybody’s thinking about another player -- just means a lot.”
What he told his players on the field
“I just told them to pray for him, because at that point we didn’t have much. He was breathing, so I shared that and said, ‘Please pray for him.’ I told them, ‘We’re taking knees. We’re going to take knees for the rest of the game -- they are and we are. Until this thing’s over.’”
What Norris means to Lions
“He’s another one of those young guys. We’ve got some guys that have taken Mo under their wing -- Kerby (Joseph) and (Brian) Branch, and those guys, you know, he’s like a little brother to them, and he’s somebody that wants to be a part of that group. Comes in and works hard and, Year 2, you know, looking for the growth and the kid just wants to get better every day, so, you know, I don’t even know what else to say, to be honest with you.”
What’s next?
“We’ll have, obviously, some members that are going to stay back. Some players, I know, want to see him and I know are going to take care of him. I know his mom’s with him, which is awesome. It’s good to hear.”