Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has shown “remarkable improvement” in the past 24 hours, three days after suffering cardiac arrest during an NFL game, the Bills said Thursday.
The team said Hamlin appears to “neurologically intact” as he continues to recover.
The 24-year-old defensive back collapsed Monday night after taking a hard hit in the chest while tackling Bengals receiver Tee Higgins during the first quarter of a nationally televised game in Cincinnati.
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Medical staff restored Hamlin’s heartbeat on the field and he was hospitalised in critical condition.
“Per the physicians caring for Damar Hamlin at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Damar has shown remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours,” the Bills said in a statement.
“While still critically ill, he has demonstrated that he appears to be neurologically intact. His lungs continue to heal and he is making steady progress.”
Multiple reports said Hamlin was awake and had asked doctors who won Friday’s game.
Hamlin’s frightening collapse on Monday night made for dramatic scenes before the national television audience.
Bills and Bengals players were clearly stunned, with some crying openly and praying as doctors treated Hamlin on the field. The game was eventually suspended.
Concern remained days later, with fans gathering outside the Bills’ home stadium to hold a prayer vigil for Hamlin.
On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden said he had spoken at length with Hamlin’s parents and told reporters when asked about the NFL that ”… it is dangerous. We’ve got to just acknowledge it.”
NFL players returned to workouts on Wednesday ahead of the final weekend of regular-season games, with the New England Patriots set to visit the Bills on Sunday.
“We’re all handling it in different ways,” Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins said.
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The Bills conducted team meetings and a walkthrough practice session Wednesday but media sessions were canceled.
NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said Wednesday that league officials have not spoken about the possibility of simply canceling the Bills-Patriots game, but said Bills coach Sean McDermott and Buffalo players will guide such matters.
“We’ve not had that discussion,” Vincent said. “We’ll allow Sean, his team, his staff and the players — which are the most important thing here — to guide us if we have to make that decision.” The NFL says the Bills-Bengals game, a key matchup for deciding playoff seeding, will not be completed this week and might never be finished.
“Everything is being considered,” Vincent said.bb/dw
