A frightening and emotional scene unfolded early on during Monday night’s game between Invoices And the Bengals. With 5:58 left in the first quarter, Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed after getting to his feet after a tackle from Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. After the intervention, Hamlin stood up and suddenly fell to the ground. He received immediate medical attention on the field and was transported to UC Medical Center in Cincinnati.
The Bills announced in a statement early Tuesday morning that Hamlin, 24, went into cardiac arrest following the hit with his heartbeat restored on the court. The team further revealed that Hamlin was “sedated and listed in a critical condition”.
CBS Sports NFL insider Josena Anderson reported Tuesday night that Hamlin’s situation is headed in a positive direction.
Monday Night Football between Buffalo and Cincinnati has been officially postponed by the NFL shortly after 10 p.m. EST. The League issued the following statement:
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that the Buffalo Bills-Cincinnati Bengals game last night has been postponed following the collapse of Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills.
Hamlin received immediate medical attention on the field by the team, independent medical staff, and local paramedics. He was then taken to a local hospital where his condition is critical.
Our thoughts are with Damar and the Buffalo Bills. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
The NFL has been in constant contact with the NFL Players Association agreeing to postpone the game.
Hamlin received CPR on the field for several minutes while being placed on a stretcher and eventually in an ambulance. He was given oxygen upon entering the ambulance, which took him and some of his family members to the hospital.
On Tuesday morning, family spokesman Gordon Rooney gave an update on Hamlin: “I can’t speak specifically about his medical condition. All I will say is he’s fighting. He’s a fighter. … The family is in good spirits. We’re honestly taking it minute by minute.” And hour by hour… The most important thing is to give the family their privacy… His family is going through a lot at the moment.”
Released by The Hamlin Family Next press release Late Tuesday morning:
“On behalf of our family, we would like to express our sincere gratitude for the love and support Dummar has shown during this difficult time. We are deeply moved by the prayers, kind words, and donations from fans across the country.
“We also want to pay tribute to the dedicated first responders and healthcare professionals at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center who have provided exceptional care to Damar. We feel very fortunate to be a part of the Buffalo Bills organization and to have their support. We also want to thank Coach Taylor and the Bengals for everything they’ve done .
“Your generosity and compassion mean the world to us. Please keep Damar in your prayers. We will release updates as soon as we have them.”
Monday’s game was temporarily suspended after coaches Sean McDermott of the Bills and Zack Taylor of the Bengals spoke on the field. About an hour later, the NFL decided to postpone the game. She chose not to address a possible rescheduling of the game on a media call late Monday night. That decision will ultimately rest with Commissioner Roger Goodell.
The Bills decided to return to Buffalo early Tuesday morning. Several Bills and Bengals members visited the hospital late Monday night.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Bills issued the following statement:
Damar Hamlin spent last night in the intensive care unit and remains there today in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
We are grateful and thankful for the outpouring support we have received thus far.
At approximately 11:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Hamlin’s agent, Ira Turner, provided a statement to the NFL Media: “Please continue to pray for Damar and his family. We currently have no update at this time. We will ask that you keep the family in your prayers.”
Hamlin is in the middle of his second season with the Bills. He earned a spot in Buffalo’s starting lineup this season after appearing in 14 games as a starter. Hamlin played collegiately at Pittsburgh, tallying 276 tackles and six interceptions.
Hamlin character And his work ethic led him to the Bills’ 53-man roster as a rookie despite being a third-day pick. The same work ethic helped him become a rookie player this season.
“Damar did an amazing job,” Bills GM Brandon Beane said of Hamlin during his rookie training camp. “He’s a very instinctive player. … He’s a great kid, he wants it, he works hard and he gives himself every chance to put himself in the mix despite being a sixth-round pick.”
Bengals owner Mike Brown issued a statement offering support and commenting on how everyone in the stadium dealt with the “unprecedented” frightening scene.
Hamlin’s injury led to an outpouring of passion and support throughout the sporting world. Each NFL team submitted their thoughts via social media. Dozens of players also expressed their support for Hamlin and his Buffalo teammates.
CBS Sports will provide more information about Hamlin as soon as it becomes available.
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