ORCHARD PARK, NY –Three weeks after struggling cardiac arrest on the area in a sport in Cincinnati, Buffalo Bills security Damar Hamlin joined his teammates on Sunday to attend their AFC divisional playoff sport in opposition to the Bengals.
With two minutes to go in the first half, Hamlin appeared on the stadium video board, opening the window to the suite the place he was watching the sport and making his signature “coronary heart” signal to an explosion of cheers from the Bills devoted.
“I believed it was a fairly cool second; the sport wasn’t trending the manner we needed it to, however after they put him on the huge display screen, only a nice second, maintaining perspective on the place he was just some weeks in the past, Bills coach Sean McDermott mentioned after the 27-10 loss.
It was Hamlin’s first look in public since the Jan. 2 sport between the Bills and Bengals that was suspended after which canceled when Hamlin’s coronary heart stopped beating after he made a sort out on extensive receiver Tee Higgins.
McDermott mentioned Hamlin visited with the workforce throughout pregame, in the locker room.
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“Just him being in the locker room, his presence, I believe it was good for the guys and hopefully, good for him,” McDermott mentioned.
“So, tremendous pleased for him and grateful that his well being is returning and I do know he’ll proceed to take it someday at a time.”
After spending per week in the ICU in Cincinnati earlier than coming house to Buffalo to proceed his restoration, Hamlin returned to the locker room at Highmark Stadium on Sunday afternoon, with the help of safety personnel – as the Bills documented on social media.
The CBS pregame present aired a clip of Hamlin driving with two different folks in the safety car. The community additionally confirmed his mom and youthful brother in attendance.
“Just his presence speaks volumes,” Bills middle Mitch Morse mentioned. “He’s not a giant rah-rah man. I’m certain sooner or later he is slightly bit exhausted of individuals asking how he is doing or put in a place that he did not ask to be put in. His presence alone, his smile , his optimistic power, which he is at all times had, at all times injects power and good vibes with the group.
“It was actually good to see him. I’m actually pleased for the followers, the crowd, for him to have the ability to go on the market. He’s labored very arduous to get to the place he is in proper now.”
Bills coach Sean McDermott mentioned Hamlin started making common visits to the workforce’s facility quickly after his launch from the hospital in what he described as “dipping his toe again in right here and getting on the street to only getting again to himself.”
Contributing: The Associated Press
