UPDATED 1/6, 10:15 a.m. ET: Shams Charania of the Athletic and Stadium tweeted Friday, “A blessing: The breathing tube is out of Damar Hamlin as of this morning and he has begun talking to Buffalo Bills teammates again.”
He added, “Hamlin has had a breathing tube in body through his throat since Monday night, but no longer needs it and can breathe fully on his own.”
UPDATED 1/5, 8:55 p.m. ET: The NFL has decided not to resume the Bills-Bengals game, according to the Associated Press and ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter
It’s still unclear how the league will approach playoff seedings and scheduling.
UPDATED 1/5, 2:14 p.m. ET: Doctors provided an update on Hamlin’s condition, saying that he asked about who won the Bills-Bengals game.
“You won the game of life,” they responded.
UPDATED 1/5, 11:20 a.m. ET: The Buffalo Bills provided on updated on Damar Hamlin’s condition, tweeting that he has shown “remarkable improvement.” See the team’s statement below.
Meanwhile, Ian Rapoport tweeted that Hamlin “opened his eyes last night and is responsive.”
CNN’s Omar Jimenez is also reporting that Hamlin “has been holding hands with family.”
See original story below.
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin was taken off in an ambulance during tonight’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals after collapsing on the field. He’s now hospitalized and in critical condition.
About midway through the first quarter, Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins was tackled by Hamlin, with the latter getting up and then falling to the ground. The ESPN broadcast said CPR was administered for several minutes.
Joe Danneman of Fox 19 Now tweeted there was an “extreme amount of urgency” and that the ambulance carrying Hamlin was taken to the hospital by a police escort. The 24-year-old reportedly had a pulse but was “not breathing on his own.”
Tricia Macke, also of Fox 19 Now, posted just before 10 p.m. that Hamlin “has been intubated and is currently listed in critical condition.”
Just after 10:30 p.m., Hamlin’s marketing rep and friend Jordon Rooney tweeted, “Update on Damar: His vitals are back to normal and they have put him to sleep to put a breathing tube down his throat. They are currently running tests. We will provide updates as we have them.”
As Rooney and others noted, those interested in finding a way to show support for Damar could opt to donate to his “Chasing M’s Foundation Community Toy Drive” GoFundMe, which has careened past $1.7 million, up from a reported $10,000 earlier in the evening.
Both teams returned to their locker rooms after the ambulance departed. Danneman wrote there was a subsequent conversation between Bills head coach Sean McDermott, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, and game officials. According to Bengals beat reporter Kelsey Conway, Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow and several teammates also went into the Bills locker room.
The game was eventually postponed. The NFL issued a statement confirming Hamlin is in critical condition after getting attention on the field from “team and independent medical staff and local paramedics.”
“Our thoughts are with Damar and the Buffalo Bills. We will provide more information as it becomes available. The NFL has been in constant communication with the NFL Players Association which is in agreement with postponing the game,” the statement concludes.
ESPN wrote that the “entire Bills sideline surrounded Hamlin” when he was being treated. “Multiple Bills players were visibly distressed and comforting each other as he was being cared for by athletic trainers,” the outlet said. “Many players turned away from watching Hamlin in distress.”
Early Tuesday, the Bills tweeted an update on Hamlin’s condition, writing that he “suffered a cardiac arrest,” and that his “heartbeat was restored on the field.” According to the team, Hamlin is still in critical condition.
Hamlin’s family also released a statement on Tuesday.
In another statement, the NFL announced that the Bills-Bengals will not continue this week. Additionally, commissioner Roger Goodell sent out a message to teams regarding the incident.
The Bills’ Twitter account and many NFL personalities and fans are expressed their wishes for Hamlin’s healthy recovery.
