Bills officially place safety Damar Hamlin on injured reserve as he recovers from cardiac arrest
>
Buffalo Bills officially place safety Damar Hamlin on Injured Reserve as he continues to recover from cardiac arrest … while rookie cornerback Christian Benford is activated off-list
The Buffalo Bills placed Damar Hamlin on Injured Reserve ahead of their Week 18 game against the New England Patriots after security went into cardiac arrest Monday night.
Buffalo’s safety had his breathing tube removed Friday in the latest sign of improvement after he was resuscitated on the Cincinnati field Monday night following his cardiac arrest.
As expected, the Bills placed the 24-year-old on Injured Reserve on Friday and activated cornerback Christian Benford.
On Wednesday, the Bills announced they had signed safety Jared Mayden from the New York Jets’ practice squad to fill the void left by Hamlin’s condition.
The Bills also released veteran cornerback Xavier Rhodes earlier this week and activated Benford to take his place.
Buffalo placed Damar Hamlin on Injured Reserve as he continues to recover from cardiac arrest
Early Friday, Hamlin spoke to teammates from the hospital after his breathing tube was removed. According to the team, he flexed, gave a heart sign and told them, “I love you guys.”
‘They didn’t know what we were going to do [the call]’ Bills coach Sean McDermott told reporters on Friday’s conference call.
“When I said we had a ‘gift’ in store, you could see the look in his eyes anticipating what was probably coming,” McDermott continued. “And then to get the Zoom and when he came on the screen… to see the player’s reaction, they immediately stood up and clapped for him and yelled some things at him and it was a really cool exchange for a few seconds.”
A statement from the team on Friday provided more clarity on Hamlin’s current status and his progress in recovery.
Hamlin continues to recover at a Cincinnati hospital, having had his breathing tubes removed.
“According to UCMC physicians, Damar’s breathing tube was removed overnight,” the statement read. ‘She continues to make remarkable progress in her recovery. Her neurological function remains intact and she has been able to speak with her family and her care team.”
Meanwhile, back in Buffalo, rookie CB Christian Benford was activated from Injured Reserve to make room for Hamlin.
Benford broke his hand in a game against the Dolphins in week 3 and only missed a few games.
Villanova’s sixth-round pick was placed on the IR in late November when the team activated CB Xavier Rhodes.
With the news that Hamlin is going IR, the Bills activated rookie CB Christian Benford