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Detroit Lions' Morice Norris in stable condition after suffering injury that halted preseason game

Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris Jr. is in stable condition after suffering a serious injury during Friday night's preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons, the team said.

In a message on Instagram Saturday morning, Norris said, "Amen Amen I'm all good man don't stress it appreciate all the check-ins and love."  

Norris, 24 was hurt with 14:50 left, trying to tackle Nathan Carter. According to the NFL, he sustained a hit to the head/neck area and was taken off the field in an ambulance. Afterwards, the players let the clock run down until there was 6:30 left, and the referees announced the game was suspended.

The Lions were ahead of the Falcons 17-10 when the game stopped.

Head coach Dan Campbell said during a postgame press conference that Norris is breathing and talking. Campbell said he and Falcons head coach Raheem Morris agreed not to finish the game.

"It was tough to watch," Morris said. "It was tough for the other team to see getting a teammate hurt that way. It was the right thing to do for Dan and his crew and his team and everything we had going on right there, I thought that was the right thing."  

Morris added it was "common courtesy" for the coaches to decide not to finish the game.  

"Something like that happens, it puts things into perspective. We're just praying for Mo. I ask that everybody pray for him," Campbell told reporters. "He's got some movement, and now they're running more tests."

The team said Friday night that Norris was in "stable condition and has feeling and movement in all his extremities." He was expected to remain in the hospital overnight for observation.

Earlier, Hendon Hooker lost two fumbles in a start that did not last as long as expected, hurting his hopes to win Detroit's backup quarterback job as Kyle Allen threw two touchdown passes to lead the Lions.

Hooker started and was expected to play the full first half. Instead, he lost a fumble on Detroit's opening drive and then lost another fumble in the second quarter. Detroit coach Dan Campbell immediately turned to Allen.

Allen responded by completing a 68-yard pass to Jackson Meeks before throwing an 11-yard touchdown pass to Isaac TeSlaa, a rookie from Arkansas who took advantage of his 6-foot-4 frame to make the leaping catch over Atlanta nickel back Dee Alford.

The Falcons held out starting quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and backup Kirk Cousins. Easton Stick made a strong bid to win the No. 3 job by completing 15 of 18 passes for 159 yards, including a 13-yard scoring pass to Chris Blair late in the first half.

Emory Jones played the second half for Atlanta.

Detroit will return home for its third preseason game against the Miami Dolphins on Aug. 16. Meanwhile, Atlanta will stay at home to play the Tennessee Titans on Aug. 15.

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