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Bills' Damar Hamlin in Critical Condition After Collapsing on Field vs. Bengals
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is in critical condition after he suffered cardiac arrest following a collision with Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins in the first quarter of Monday night's game and was taken to the hospital.
Early Tuesday morning, the Bills said Hamlin's heartbeat was "restored on the field and he was transferred to the UC Medical Center for further testing and treatment."
The Bills announced Wednesday that Hamlin has showed "signs of improvement."
On Monday night, Hamlin's representative Jordon Rooney announced that Hamlin's vital signs were "back to normal and they have put him to sleep to put a breathing tube down his throat" as doctors ran tests.
On Tuesday evening, Hamlin's uncle, Dorrian Glenn, told Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network that Hamlin had progressed enough to reduce the concentration of oxygen in the ventilator but that he was still sedated and in the intensive care unit. He also told the reporter Hamlin was resuscitated a second time after arriving at the hospital Monday night.
Rooney and Hamlin's family provided an update early Wednesday to ESPN's Coley Harvey stating that doctors saw "promising readings that they had been hoping to see." While "progress appears to be made," Harvey added that Hamlin remains sedated in critical condition in the ICU.
Per ESPN's Ben Baby, an ambulance was brought onto the field to transport Hamlin. During the broadcast, ESPN's Joe Buck said CPR was being administered to Hamlin on the field.
After a lengthy delay, the Bengals announced that the game was suspended. It was later determined that the game would not be continued Monday night, and there has been no indication when or if the game will be played.
Hamlin tackled Higgins, stood up and then collapsed in a scary scene. He was down on the field for some time as he was evaluated for a head injury before officials "frantically" began administering CPR, Buck said. He was then placed in the ambulance and driven off the field.
During the broadcast, ESPN's Lisa Salters reported that the Bills were emotional and visibly shaken. Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott brought the team together to say a prayer, and Bills receiver Stefon Diggs later gathered the team.
Buffalo selected Hamlin in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft out of Pitt. The 24-year-old spent his rookie year in a reserve role, but he became a starter in Week 3 this season after safety Micah Hyde suffered a neck injury.
Entering Monday, Hamlin had appeared in all 15 games this season and registered 91 tackles, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.