Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest following a hit in the first quarter of Monday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamlin’s heartbeat got restored on the field before being transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He is sedated and in critical condition. The Bills provided an update early Tuesday morning.
Hamlin collided with Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. The hit looked routine. However, after Hamlin stood up, he collapsed on the field. Players from both teams immediately waved for the Bills” training staff.
The frantic nature of the players and medics laminated how serious the situation was for Hamlin. CPR was administered on the field. Players from both teams looked on cautiously. Some knelt in prayers. Others broke down in tears.
A hush surrounded the stadium as ESPN’s broadcasters Joe Buck and Troy Aikman struggled through informing viewers what had occurred.
Hamlin was eventually loaded in an ambulance and transported to the same hospital where other NFL players, Tua Tagovailoa and Ryan Shazier were taken after their serious injuries.
The Bills and Bengals returned to their respective locker rooms before the NFL postponed the game. ESPN mentioned the teams may be given a five-minute warmup period before resuming the game. However, NFL Executive Vice President Troy Vincent said the league never discussed a warmup period.
The Bills and Bengals game was pivotal for the AFC playoff standings. Buffalo needs a win to move back to the No. 1 seed in the AFC and receive a bye in the wild-card round. A Cincinnati win would move the Bengals into second place and give them a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Bills and Kansas City Chiefs, who are currently the AFC’s top seed.
None of that matters for now. The focus of the Bills and the NFL is on the health of Hamlin.
A sixth-round draft pick in 2021 out of Pittsburgh, Damar Hamlin started 14 games this season. He entered Monday’s game with 91 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble.
