Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, 24, is in critical condition after going down Monday night against the Cincinnati Bengals. Here’s what we know:
what happened: Hamlin fell on his back after making an open tackle on Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.
Within 10 seconds, Bills trainers began treating the player. An ambulance was called to the scene in less than five minutes, and footage showed Hamlin receiving CPR, according to ESPN’s broadcast. He was then taken to hospital.
Hamlin Status: The Bills issued a statement on Twitter earlier Tuesday that the player went into cardiac arrest after being hit by the tackle, but his heartbeat has resumed on the field.
Beer added that Hamlin was transferred to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center for further testing and treatment, where he is now being sedated.
game: The game was suspended at 5:58 in the first quarter, and then the game was officially postponed. More details on next steps will be released “in due course,” the NFL said, adding that Hamlin’s well-being is the top priority.
team: Some of Hamlin’s teammates stayed in Cincinnati Tuesday morning while others returned to Buffalo. Buffalo is located in New York State, near the US-Canada border.
ESPN’s broadcast showed Bills wide receiver Steven Diggs arriving late Monday night at the hospital where Hamlin was being treated.
A little bit about Hamlin: The 24-year-old Pennsylvania native joins the Bills in 2021 as a sixth-round pick from the University of Pittsburgh. He has played in every game this season.
According to his Pittsburgh Panthers résumé, he was redshirted in 2016 with an injury — meaning he sat out games while remaining with the team. He also missed games in 2017 and 2019 due to injuries, the NFL website added.