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Damar Hamlin

Latest On Bills S Damar Hamlin’s Recovery

January 6th, 2023 at 1:30pm CST by Sam Robinson

Another batch of positive developments has surfaced from Damar Hamlin‘s recovery Friday. The hospitalized defender no longer needs his breathing tube and was able to speak to Bills teammates, the team announced.

After speaking to his family and select staffers at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Hamlin told Bills teammates, via Facetime, “Love you boys” (Twitter links). Doctors removed Hamlin’s breathing tube overnight. Hamlin cannot say much yet, but his ensuing words to his teammates, understandably, “brought the house down,” SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets.

Hamlin’s doctors have indicated he is ahead of schedule in his recovery from cardiac arrest. The 24-year-old safety collapsed on the field in the first quarter of the Bills-Bengals matchup Monday. He required CPR at Paycor Stadium, where he was resuscitated, and as of Wednesday needed to be on a ventilator. By Thursday, Hamlin had awakened and was using his hands and feet.

Doctors said Thursday that Hamlin appeared to be neurologically intact, and the Bills’ latest statement indicates the same. During Hamlin’s short address to his teammates, Sean McDermott said he gave them a thumbs-up and “flexed on them,” ESPN.com’s Alaina Getzenberg tweets. Bills GM Brandon Beane stayed in Cincinnati through Thursday.

“I simply asked what would I want someone to do for my son,” Beane said. “I have two boys. Sean wanted to stay, too, but we decided he had to be with and lead our team back in Buffalo. It was a rollercoaster.”

A number of NFL tributes will take place this weekend; his charity has received nearly $8MM in donations. Hamlin’s doctors said Thursday it is far too soon to know if he will ever play football again, but considering where this situation was as recently as midweek, these latest rounds of updates have illustrated a remarkable turn of events.

Doctors: Damar Hamlin Has Made ‘Substantial Improvement’

January 5th, 2023 at 1:04pm CST by Sam Robinson

More good news is coming out regarding Damar Hamlin‘s recovery. Doctors at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center confirmed the Bills safety has made “substantial improvement” after being hospitalized due to cardiac arrest.

Hamlin’s neurological condition and function appear intact, Dr. Timothy Pritts said Thursday (via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero, on Twitter). Hamlin has not regained the ability to speak and is using a breathing tube, but he asked his nurse, via pen and paper on a clipboard, who won Monday night’s Bills-Bengals game, Field Yates of ESPN.com tweets. Hamlin remains critically ill, according to the doctors, but he has resumed the use of his hands and feet.

Both doctors and the Bills addressed Hamlin’s neurological functions, and Dr. William Knight said the Pittsburgh-area native has been holding many people’s hands in his room over the past several hours (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). While Hamlin will need to progress to breathing on his own, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo adds (via Twitter) doctors are now discussing him being sent home.

Doctors are still determining the cause of Hamlin’s cardiac arrest, with commotio cordis — an extremely rare condition that emerges after chest trauma produces waves of electricity that can alter heart rhythm — being one of the possibilities, Garafolo tweets. Hamlin will need to resume breathing on his own to be upgraded to stable condition, the Buffalo News’ Jay Skurski tweets.

The doctors have informed Hamlin it is far too soon to know if he will be able to play football again, via ESPN.com’s Dianna Russini (on Twitter), but considering where this situation was as recently as Wednesday, that is a secondary concern. Dr. Knight confirmed Hamlin had a pulse and then lost it while surrounded by medical personnel. The CPR performed at Paycor Stadium resuscitated Hamlin, who suddenly fell backward after making a first-quarter tackle on Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.

Doctors said Hamlin has been made aware his charity — the Chasing M’s Foundation — has received more than $7MM in donations, Skurski tweets. Numerous NFL players and coaches have made donations. The developments of the past 24 hours have revitalized the Bills, according to ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler, who adds (via Twitter) the team erupted with applause after Damar’s father, Mario Hamlin, informed the team of his son’s progress. We will continue to provide updates on Hamlin’s condition as news develops.

Latest On Bills S Damar Hamlin’s Recovery

January 5th, 2023 at 9:47am CST by Sam Robinson

JANUARY 5: The Bills released a statement Thursday morning indicating Hamlin has shown “remarkable improvement” over the past day. The team said (via Twitter) Hamlin’s lungs continue to heal, and members of his family informed NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe that the young defender is neurologically intact (video link). While the Bills statement said Hamlin remains “critically ill,” Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports he opened his eyes Wednesday night (Twitter links).

Doctors believe Hamlin is ahead of schedule in his recovery, according to Dianna Russini of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Damar’s father, Mario Hamlin, addressed the team Wednesday and informed the players of the progress his son has made, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

JANUARY 4: Damar Hamlin remains under sedation in the intensive care unit at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, but updates continue to emerge. Hamlin’s recovery effort is “moving in a positive direction,” according to his marketing representative (via NFL.com’s Cameron Wolfe, video link). Hamlin remains in critical condition; the Bills recently announced (via Twitter) he has shown signs of improvement.

Hamlin is on a ventilator, and reports indicated he had progressed from needing 100% of the ventilator’s oxygen to requiring around 50% by Tuesday night. Hamlin’s agent also said his client’s oxygen levels have improved, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com adds. Wednesday morning, doctors have seen the “promising readings” they had hoped for by this point, Coley Harvey of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter).

Medical personnel performed CPR on Hamlin for multiple minutes. Although Hamlin’s uncle indicated resuscitation was twice required following his nephew’s cardiac arrest, the family said Wednesday (via Harvey, on Twitter) the 24-year-old defensive back only needed to be resuscitated once. That instance occurred on the field at Paycor Stadium.

Hamlin’s first-quarter tackle on Tee Higgins, which led to the cardiac arrest and an ambulance transporting the second-year safety to the hospital, initially preceded a short stretch in which it looked like the Bills-Bengals game would resume. The NFL has pushed back on the reported five-minute warmup period initially announced by ESPN, but Albert Breer of SI.com notes (via Twitter) multiple Bengals coaches heard “five minutes” — a usual timeframe following a major injury — regarding a return to play.

The ensuing on-field meeting between Sean McDermott and Zac Taylor led to the players returning to the locker room, Breer adds. Taylor said Wednesday that McDermott told him, “I need to be at the hospital with Damar and I shouldn’t be coaching this game.” The two teams re-emerged from their respective locker rooms in street clothes, shifting their full focuses toward Hamlin.

The NFL has not announced a resumption date for the Week 17 matchup. Bills players traveled back to Buffalo on Tuesday morning. The team remains scheduled to host the Patriots on Sunday. Rather than going through a typical Wednesday practice ahead of a Sunday game, the Bills announced they will hold a walkthrough.

Latest On Damar Hamlin, Bills-Bengals

January 3rd, 2023 at 6:41pm CST by Adam La Rose

6:41pm: Hamlin is on a ventilator, according to the Syracuse Post-Standard’s Matt Parrino, who spoke with Hamlin’s uncle, Dorrian Glenn. However, it is believed Hamlin’s breathing is improving, CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson adds (Twitter links).

Hamlin needed to be resuscitated twice — once on the field and once after he arrived at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center — according to ESPN.com’s Coley Harvey, who also spoke with Glenn (Twitter link). Lung damage is a concern, per Harvey, but Glenn added (via Parrino) his nephew is only using 50% of the ventilator Tuesday. He needed 100% of the ventilator’s oxygen Monday. Hamlin remains sedated, Cameron Wolfe of NFL.com tweets.

Further updates to the situation will be provided as they become available.

9:01am: All attention around the NFL continues to be focused on the well-being of Bills safety Damar Hamlin after he went into cardiac arrest during last night’s game between the Bills and Bengals. The early hours of Tuesday morning provided further clarification on the way the incident was handled.

Hamlin, 24, received care on the field which included CPR after he collapsed immediately following a tackle made on Bengals wideout Tee Higgins. That, as noted by a team announcement, restored his heartbeat before he was ultimately loaded directly into an ambulance and taken to hospital. He has since been intubated and, as of the latest update, remains sedated and in critical condition.

The situation left the NFL, NFLPA, on-field officials and both teams in need of making a determination with respect to how to proceed (if at all) with the game. While the ESPN broadcast mentioned the potential of a five-minute warmup period being given to each squad before resuming the contest, NFL EVP Troy Vincent denied that such a scenario was ever in consideration.

“There was no time period for the players to get warmed up,” Vincent said on a conference call (Twitter link via NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo). “It never crossed our mind to talk about warming up to resume play. That’s ridiculous. That’s insensitive. That’s not a place we should ever be in.”

Indeed, the contest was temporarily suspended, and later postponed in the wake of Hamlin’s uncertain condition. After a number of players and staff members from both teams visited the hospital where he is receiving treatment, it was initially reported that some Bills players would remain in Cincinnati instead of returning home. Further clarification from Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News confirms, however, that the team has traveled in full back to Buffalo (Twitter link).

As they and the rest of the NFL await further updates on Hamlin’s status, the matter of potentially resuming the game has been brought up. On the aforementioned conference call, NFL EVP of communications Jeff Miller said (via the Ringer’s Lindsay Jones, on Twitter) that that is “not a consideration right now.” While such a stance is certainly understandable in the aftermath of last night’s frightening events, the Buffalo-Cincinnati contest carries significant playoff implications for both teams. The situation is further complicated by the relation of its outcome to other AFC games set to be played this Sunday as the regular season is scheduled to come to a close.

Bills-Bengals Game Remains Without Resumption Date

January 3rd, 2023 at 1:42pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Bills announced Tuesday afternoon Damar Hamlin remains in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Hamlin going into cardiac arrest during the first quarter of Monday night’s game has brought other NFL matters to a halt.

The NFL addressed the on-field procedures and decision to postpone the Bills-Bengals game early Tuesday morning, but as of this afternoon, its schedule is unchanged. Roger Goodell said Monday’s game will not be resumed this week. Week 18 remains slated to begin Saturday. While this invites logistical questions, Hamlin’s status continues to be the league’s focus.

“The NFL continues to be in regular contact with the medical team caring for Damar Hamlin, and also the Bills and Bengals organizations and the NFL Players Association. After speaking with both teams and NFLPA leadership, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell informed the clubs today that the Bills-Bengals game will not be resumed this week,” the NFL said in a statement.

“The NFL has made no decision regarding the possible resumption of the game at a later date. The league has not made any changes to the Week 18 regular season schedule.”

Bills players traveled back to Buffalo on Tuesday morning. The team is next scheduled to play against the Patriots on Sunday. The Bengals are set to host the Ravens in Week 18. Monday’s game being ruled a no-contest would obviously produce a historic ripple effect. The Bengals would win the AFC North title by default, while the Bills would go from controlling their own destiny for the AFC’s No. 1 seed to seeing the Chiefs have that control.

Postponing the playoffs in order to complete one game would be a drastic step for the league, though there is precedent for altering the schedule. Following a lengthy players’ strike, the 1982 season featured a 16-team playoff bracket that did not begin until Jan. 8, 1983. The September 11 attacks prompted the NFL to postpone Week 2 games in 2001, leading to a pushed-back playoff schedule. The COVID-19 pandemic also required forced flexibility from the league, which rescheduled several games during the 2020 and ’21 seasons.

Bills-Bengals Game Postponed Following Damar Hamlin Hospitalization

January 3rd, 2023 at 1:38am CST by Sam Robinson

JANUARY 3, 1:38am: The Bills announced Hamlin went into cardiac arrest on the field. The on-field treatment restored Hamlin’s heartbeat, according to the team (on Twitter), but he remains in critical condition.

JANUARY 2, 9:37pm: Hamlin’s vitals have normalized, according to his marketing representative (on Twitter). Doctors will put him to sleep to place a breathing tube down his throat. Tests are ongoing.

9:01pm: This game will not resume tonight, according to ESPN. No resumption date has been announced. Goodell announced the postponement. Hamlin is in critical condition, according to the NFL (Twitter link).

“The NFLPA and everyone in our community is praying for Damar Hamlin. We have been in touch with Bills and Bengals players, and with the NFL. The only thing that matters at this moment is Damar’s health and well being,” the union said in a statement.

8:21pm: An ambulance transported Bills safety Damar Hamlin off the field in the first quarter of Monday night’s game. Teams had been given five minutes to warm up to begin play again, but after a discussion, both squads have left the field.

Twenty-five minutes after the Hamlin injury, the game has been suspended. Medical personnel administered CPR to Hamlin, a 24-year-old in his second NFL season. Both teams gathered together around Hamlin and the ambulance as he was stretchered into the vehicle. After Sean McDermott and Zac Taylor spoke briefly, the teams headed to their respective locker rooms.

The terrifying scene began after Hamlin made a tackle on Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. As Hamlin rose to his feet, he fell backward onto the turf, leading to the game’s stoppage. In addition to the application of CPR, medical staffers gave him oxygen. Hamlin is being transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Hamlin moved into Buffalo’s starting lineup earlier this season, becoming the team’s primary replacement for Micah Hyde, who suffered a season-ending foot injury in September. The Bills drafted Hamlin 212th overall out of Pittsburgh last year. He spent the first season of his pro career as a backup to Hyde and Jordan Poyer but has made 14 starts this year.

Bills officials, including McDermott and GM Brandon Beane, met with referees minutes ago, according to ESPN.com’s Alaina Getzenberg (on Twitter). If tonight’s game ends up being postponed, the NFL will make the decision. Roger Goodell will speak to the teams at some point, but that is obviously the secondary issue here after what just transpired.