The NFL has introduced many measures to improve the health and safety of their players over the last 15 years
The NFL's health and safety protocols were on full display after Detroit Lions safety Morice Norris suffered an apparent head injury during the Lions' preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, Aug. 8.
Norris, after colliding with Falcons running back Nathan Carter on the first play of the fourth quarter, collapsed and was immediately attended to by medical staff. He eventually left the field in an ambulance to receive treatment at a local hospital.
Though Lions coach Dan Campbell didn't reveal any specifics about Norris' injury, he said that the second-year safety was breathing and talking while receiving treatment.
Morice Norris is in stable condition and has feeling and movement in all his extremities. He will remain at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta overnight for observation.
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) August 9, 2025
We would like to thank the Atlanta Falcons organization, the EMS team at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and the…
Here's what to know about the NFL's continually-evolving effort to protect players from head injuries:
Concussion protocol
In response to a series of off-field incidents related to traumatic brain injuries (including the death of former player Dave Duerson by a self-inflicted gunshot wound in February of 2011), the NFL established a concussion protocol in 2011, which outlined a series of steps that players must undergo before being allowed to return to the field if a concussion is suspected.
The protocol mandates that a player be immediately removed from the field or stabilized on the field if a head injury is suspected. Norris likely triggered the concussion protocol by receiving a hit to the head and showing symptoms of a serious injury.
The protocol has been updated over the years, most recently in 2022, to include a five-step process before a player can be allowed to return following a concussion.
New helmets and guardian caps
The NFL uses data gathered from labaratory tests to examine the safety features of helmets and how they can better protect players against traumatic brain injuries. As part of the safety initiative, the league has also introduced seven new helmet models for the 2025 season.
In addition, NFL teams have introduced the use of "Guardian" caps during practices and games. The cap, which acts as additional padding on top of a standard helmet, is thought to improve player safety by dispersing the force of a blow away from a specific area on the head — though there are studies that suggest the caps had little effect on preventing concussions in high school players.
In-game rules changes
The NFL has tinkered with many of its rules over the past few years, aiming to decrease the number of damaging collisions to prevent head injuries.
These include increased penalties on hits to defenseless players and new penalties on players that lead with their head while tackling. The NFL has made over 50 rules changes over the past 23 years aimed to better protect players from injury.
The most recent rules changes, made ahead of the 2024 season, made illegal the hip-drop tackle and drastically changed the kickoff procedure, aiming to reduce injuries on what were some of the most dangerous plays in the game.
New practice rules
The NFL Players' Association and the league have agreed to offseason rules that limit physical contact before minicamp begins.
Teams are only allowed to practice for three days a week once minicamp begins with no live contact before minicamp. There are restrictions for how long practices can be at certain intervals, and the league encourages teams to review health and safety data during the offseason to help prevent injuries.
You can reach Christian Romo at [email protected]
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: NFL safety protocol: How the league reacts to injuries like Morice Norris'
Category: Football
