Damar Hamlin is expected to make his long-await NFL comeback for the Bills against the Dolphins in Week 4, as starting safety Jordan Poyer is ruled out with injury
- Hamlin, 25, hasn’t played a minute of NFL action since the Jan. 2 loss
- He was cleared to resume playing in April and was involved in the preseason
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Bills starting safety Jordan Poyer has been ruled out of play against the Miami Dolphins this weekend, potentially opening the door for Damar Hamlin to appear in his first regular-season game since going into cardiac arrest during a game in January.
Poyer did not practice this week due to a knee injury. It’s unclear when he was hurt, and coach Sean McDermott did not reveal the extent of the injury other than listing the seven-year starter on Thursday.
Poyer’s absence on Sunday will likely result in primary backup Taylor Rapp filling the starting spot next to Micah Hyde. The injury could also lead to Hamlin making his season debut after being healthy inactive through the first three games.
Appearing in a regular season game would be the final step in Hamlin’s bid to resume his playing career, which has been described as the 25-year-old’s remarkable recovery after he went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the field during a game in Cincinnati. on January 2.
Since being cleared to resume playing in April, the backup safety has shown no signs of caution in passing the on-field tests he faced last month in making the 53-player roster of the Bills.
Damar Hamlin is set to make his NFL comeback after going into cardiac arrest on January 2
Bills safety Jordan Poyer has been ruled out of the team’s next game against the Miami Dolphins
The third-year player combined for nine tackles while playing in all three of Buffalo’s preseason games in August.
Hamlin was injured while making what appeared to be a routine tackle when his heart stopped from a direct blow to a specific point in the heartbeat that can cause cardiac arrest.
Doctors have assured Hamlin that he can resume playing without setbacks or complications.
Hamlin, 25, went down after tackling Tee Higgins in the first quarter of a Bills-Bengals game
Hamlin (C) played all three of Buffalo’s preseason games during August training camp
Bills fans have long awaited Hamlin’s return after being named to the team’s roster
Hamlin started in place of Hyde, who was sidelined with a season-ending neck injury suffered in Week 2.
Sunday’s performance is considered an early showdown between AFC East rivals Miami (3-0) and Buffalo (2-1).
Buffalo’s secondary will be tested by a Dolphins defense that pulled off a 70-20 victory over Denver last week.
It features the receiving tandem of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who has been cleared to play after missing one game in the NFL’s concussion protocol.