The Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals game on Monday has been called off after Bills safety Damar Hamlin passed out during a play. On the field, CPR was performed by medical personnel, and an ambulance was called to transport him. His state is still unknown.
Officials declared the game was temporarily delayed more than 20 minutes after the injury in the first quarter, and both teams went back to their locker rooms.
It didn’t seem like Hamlin’s tackle of Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins was very violent. The Bills’ defensive back stood up without incident before tripping and sliding backward without trying to brace himself.
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On-field officials announced the game had been briefly paused about 20 minutes after the injury. The NFL declared the game had been called off for the evening around 40 minutes later.
Both teams’ players and coaches were obviously upset as Hamlin stood still in the middle of the field. Some athletes were sobbing.
Reporter Joe Danneman with FOX19 Cincinnati tweeted that he had been informed that Hamlin had a pulse but was not breathing on his own when he was rushed away in an ambulance.
He said, “I’ve been informed that Damar Hamlin has a pulse but is not breathing on his own. Hamlin was reportedly hooked up to an AED, according to Danneman.
Late on Monday night, a marketing representative for Hamlin provided an update on the company.
The representative tweeted, “His vitals are back to normal and they put him to sleep to insert a breathing tube down his neck.” “Tests are being conducted right now.”
The University of Pittsburgh’s Hamlin, 24, was selected in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
After authorities declared that the game had been momentarily suspended one hour after Hamlin’s injury, both teams went back to their locker rooms. However, the NFL announced that the game had been called off for the evening roughly an hour after Hamlin was injured.
The NFL claimed in a statement that Hamlin is hospitalized nearby and is in critical condition: “Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills passed out prior to tonight’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Local paramedics and team medical staff provided Hamlin with emergency medical care on the scene. He was afterwards taken to a nearby hospital, where he is currently in a critical condition. We are praying for Damar and the Buffalo Bills. As additional information becomes available, we will update this page. The NFL Players Association, which supports postponing the game, has been in continual contact with the NFL.”
On Monday evening, the NFL Players Association also released a statement.
The statement said, “The NFLPA and everyone in our community are praying for Damar Hamlin.” “We have communicated with players for the Bengals and Bills as well as the NFL. The wellbeing of Damar is the only thing that matters right now.
