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Buffalo Bills sign safety Jared Mayden to fill the void left by Damar Hamlin after her cardiac arrest during Monday’s game against the Bengals
The Buffalo Bills announced they signed safety Jared Mayden from the New York Jets’ practice squad on Thursday after releasing veteran cornerback Xavier Rhodes.
Buffalo’s decision to add another safety comes in response to safety Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest suffered during Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Mayden also spent time with the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles, with whom he appeared in four games in 2021, recording six tackles.
The Buffalo Bills have announced they have signed safety Jared Mayden from the Jets.
Mayden to fill in security depth following Damar Hamlin’s cardiac arrest during Monday’s game
He has appeared in six games since joining the league as an undrafted free agent in 2020 after playing his college football at the University of Alabama.
The four-star recruit from Dallas, Texas played primarily in a backup role at Alabama and didn’t start until his senior season when he recorded 59 tackles and three pass breakups and led the team with four interceptions.
He received an invite to the Senior Bowl but did not receive an invite to the NFL combine, however scouts still expected Mayden to be drafted.
Despite the 2020 preseason being cancelled, he was impressive enough during San Francisco training camp to sign with the 49ers practice squad.
Mayden will add depth to the safety position. Meanwhile, the latest update on Hamlin is that his health has been moving in the right direction.
Hamlin (No. 3) got to his feet briefly after tackling Higgins before falling backwards in shocking scenes as the Buffalo Bills played the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Bills player collapsed moments later, falling backwards and lying motionless on the ground.
Bills players were visibly stunned when their teammate received life-saving treatment on the field.
Hamlin’s cardiac arrest occurred in the middle of the payday first quarter when he tackled Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins, then collapsed to the ground motionless seconds after getting to his feet.
He was surrounded by a wall of players from both teams as doctors attended to him for 16 minutes before being transported to hospital by ambulance.
ESPN TV’s coverage had initially taken four commercial breaks before returning its coverage to the studio.
While attending to him, doctors performed CPR and had to shock Hamlin’s heart to get it back into rhythm, but he still couldn’t breathe on his own.
After reports that play would resume after a five-minute warm-up period, both coaches directed their teams to the locker room before play was suspended until further notice.
Football fans place items during a vigil outside the University of Cincinnati Medical Center
Buffalo Bills fans and community members gather for a candlelight vigil for the safety of Buffalo Bills Hamlin in Orchard Park, New York
After the game, fans of both teams traveled from Paycor Stadium, where the game was held, to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where Hamlin was transported.
Both sets of fans came together in prayer and expressed good wishes for Hamlin’s healing.
Bills fans also gather near Bills Stadium in Orchard Park to hold a prayer vigil for Hamlin and set up various candles, signs and more to wish him well.