Items placed by football fans are seen during a vigil outside the University of Cincinnati Medical Center where Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin lies in critical condition, after suffering a cardiac arrest during the January 2 National Football League (NFL) game against the Cincinnati Bengals, in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S., January 3, 2023.
Megan Jelinger | Reuters
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is showing “signs of improvement” and loved ones are “elated” about his progress, even while he’s still hospitalized in critical condition, his team and family said Wednesday.
Hamlin collapsed on the field Monday night in Cincinnati. First responders performed CPR and he was rushed to nearby University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
“Damar remains in the ICU in critical condition with signs of improvement noted yesterday and overnight,” the Bills said in a statement Wednesday afternoon. “He is expected to remain under intensive care as his health care team continues to monitor and treat him.”
Family friend and spokesman Jordon Rooney said Hamlin’s health is moving in “a positive direction.”
“They are elated right now,” Rooney told The Associated Press. “Damar is still their first concern. But for them, they always look at how they can turn a somewhat troubling situation into a good one. The bounce back from this for him and his family is going to be incredible.”
President Joe Biden told reporters Wednesday that he had spoken with Hamlin’s mother and father “at length.”
Cincinnati was leading 7-3 when Hamlin tackled Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins after a 13-yard gain. Hamlin stood up from what seemed like a routine play before he went limp and fell backward to the ground at Paycor Stadium.
Hamlin went into cardiac arrest, and his “heartbeat was restored on the field,” the Bills have said.
The game was postponed, and league officials said Wednesday they’ve only just started internal talks about how to reschedule or scratch the contest.
Week 18 games — set to be the final ones of the regular season — will go on as scheduled, the NFL said.
All scenarios are on the table, and Troy Vincent, the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations, warned teams and fans that the final decision could be unpopular with some clubs.
The 12-3 Bills are a half-game behind the 13-3 Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC’s No. 1 seed. The Bills own a tiebreaker over the Chiefs by virtue of their win at Kansas City in October.
“There may be a lack of equity, where it may not be perfect,” Vincent said. “But it’ll allow those that are participating who have earned that right to play to continue to play.”
At a 38-minute meeting with reporters, NFL officials were asked repeatedly whether the Bills were emotionally prepared to play their next scheduled game Sunday against the New England Patriots.
Each time, league officials declined to guarantee that the contest would go on as scheduled.
“It’s really important that we just keep the pulse of the coach and the players and don’t get in front of that,” Vincent said.
Referring to Buffalo coach Sean McDermott, he said, “We’ll allow Sean and his team and his staff and the players, which are the most important thing here, to guide us.”