NFL Teams Pray on Field After Terrifying Injury

Published: August 14, 2025

pexels-lucasandrade-2862718 — Photo by Lucas Andrade via Pexels

By Mallory Mattingly

The Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions took the field for a preseason match-up last Friday, but after Lions cornerback Morice Norris was injured, players ran out the clock to lift him up in prayer.

With 14:50 left in the game, Norris lay motionless on the filed after his head snapped back during a tackle. “Medical staff rushed to his side, and within seconds, trainers brought out a backboard. About 20 minutes later, he was taken from the field by ambulance,” according to Crosswalk Headlines.

As emergency medical personnel got Norris off the field, play should have resumed. But instead, players from both teams joined at the 50-yard line and prayed together.

“This is powerful. The Atlanta Falcons forfeited a snap, ending the down with a prayer in their preseason game vs Detroit, after Lions safety Morice Norris was stretched off after a serious head injury,” sports commentator Jon Root wrote on X along with a video of both teams running the clock down.

This is powerful.

The Atlanta Falcons forfeited a snap, ending the down with a prayer in their preseason game vs Detroit, after Lions safety Morice Norris was stretched off after a serious head injury. pic.twitter.com/HhaVj44ZLz

— Jon Root (@JonnyRoot_) August 9, 2025

Former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III said, “Prayers up for Morice Norris. Taken away in an ambulance after a hit to the head. The players got together at midfield and let the clock run out as they prayed for Norris.”

Prayers up for Morice Norris 🙏🏾
Taken away in an ambulance after a hit to the head.
The players got together at midfield and let the clock run out as they prayed for Norris. pic.twitter.com/4yGBGV9hUC

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) August 9, 2025

Lions head coach Dan Campbell told the press after the game that Norris was “breathing, talking and had some movement.”

On Monday, Campbell gave another update, saying that Norris had been discharged from the hospital and is back at the team’s facility.

“It’s good to have him back. He’s good,” the coach said, per PrideofDetroit.com. “… We’re going to take it nice and easy here, make sure he’s good over the next, call it 10-14 days, and reassess.”

On Tuesday, Norris took to social media to express his gratitude to God.

“God is truly amazing,” Norris declared. “Starting this journey I put my complete faith in him and walked the path he had already preset for me without fear. I will forever be grateful for the trials and obstacles he places in front of me because I know I have nothing to fear.”

“I wanna thank everyone for the prayers and both organizations for how they helped me and my family as well,” he continued. “I’m just a kid who wants to play ball and you all will see me playing again real soon, so have no fear. God is with me, proud to be a ball player, proud to be a Lion. Let’s keep the show going. This is only the beginning, gonna be LEGENDARY.”