The Buffalo Bills’ clash against the Cincinnati Bengals has been abandoned after Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed to the field having made a tackle, with the 24-year-old now in a “critical condition.”
With just over six minutes remaining in the first quarter, Hamlin made a tackle on Bengals receiver Tee Higgins.
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ESPN sideline reporter Lisa Salter noted several of Hamlin’s Bills teammates were “openly crying”, such were the emotions running high.
“So much emotion down here on the Bills sideline right now,” Salter said.
“After Hamlin was taken away by the ambulance the players came to their sideline and they just looked devastated.
“Some players just sat staring out at the field, other players were hugging each other, others were openly weeping.
“At one point Stefon Diggs tried to re-focus everybody, he called everybody to gather around him. I could hear him trying to fire them up but after that again players back to the bench, looking devastated, hugging each other and openly crying.”
ESPN insider Adam Schefter added: “We haven’t seen a situation like this before. Until we know how he’s doing, nothing else matters.”
According to Fox Sports Cincinnati reporter Joe Danneman, Hamlin “has a pulse, but is not breathing on his own.”
The ESPN and ABC broadcast also stated Hamlin’s mother was in attendance at the stadium and went in the ambulance with her son to the medical centre.
At the time the game was abandoned, the Bengals held a 7-3 lead over the Bills.
