Damar Hamlin Is ‘Little Scared’ As Buffalo Bills Security Force Participates In First Conducted Practice Since Cardiac Arrest

Buffalo Bills star Damar Hamlin pushed through the anxiety to take part in his first training in sanitary napkins since his cardiac arrest.

Just seven months ago, the 25-year-old collapsed on the field during the Bills’ Week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated by the team’s training staff.

For all that Hamlin has overcome since January’s Monday Night Football game, Hamlin leaned on his faith in God and himself, along with the support of his family and teammates, to take another step toward resuming of his playing career.

“This is just another milestone on the journey – perhaps one of the biggest,” Hamlin said after training.

“I made the choice to play. But I process a thousand emotions. I’m not afraid to say it crosses my mind to be a little scared here and there,” he added. My faith is stronger than any fear. That’s what I want to preach here. And that’s the message I want to give the world: as long as your faith is stronger than your fear, you can handle anything.’

Security admitted to feeling fear, but claimed his faith was stronger and got him through it

Although Hamlin was cleared to resume practice in mid-April, he did so wearing a helmet and shorts with his teammates during their spring sessions and the first four days of training camp as mandated by NFL rules.

The magnitude of the Bills’ first day in pads had not escaped Hamlin’s notice, as it was the first time he had been in full uniform since he collapsed on the field in Cincinnati on January 2 after making what appeared to be a routine tackle from Bengals receiver Tee Higgins.

“It’s a superless space. To get back to doing what I love,” Hamlin said. “Just trying to keep everything as normal as possible.”

The normality of football hit him about an hour into practice when Hamlin first took the field during a drill in the team’s red zone in which tackling was still not allowed.

On his second play, Hamlin showed no hesitation as he charged at Damien Harris and wrapped both arms around him.

Hamlin’s biggest contact came on the final exhibition play, when he avoided a block to fight his way into the backfield and help a teammate tight stop Quintin Morris for what would have been a loss.

“That first little moment of contact, that was just to let me know. I felt alive, man. I felt like I’m here,” Hamlin said with a broad grin. So it felt good. It was that exact moment of, ‘Okay, let’s settle in and let’s watch one game at a time. Let’s just keep going.”

The 25-year-old from the Pittsburgh area is entering his third NFL season. Selected by Buffalo in the sixth round of the 2021 draft from Pitt, he opened as a backup last season before starting 13 games after Micah Hyde suffered a season-ending neck injury.

The 25-year-old has also participated in the first four days of the organization’s training camp

Hamlin was cleared to resume practice in mid-April, but did so in a helmet and shorts

Hamlin poses for a photo with fans after training at training camp on Sunday

This year, Hamlin is competing with Taylor Rapp in the off-season for a backup role behind Hyde and Jordan Poyer. As for Hamlin’s next hurdle, it comes on August 12, when the Bills open their prep schedule at home against Indianapolis.

Rapp, who spent his first four NFL seasons with the Los Angeles Rams, may be new to Buffalo, but he’s impressed with how Hamlin has handled himself.

“How far he’s come and what he’s able to come back from at the end of last season and just watch him go about his business and attack rehab at the facility is nothing short of inspiring,” Rapp said.

A day earlier, coach Sean McDermott said he was walking a thin line in treating Hamlin just like any other player, while keeping in mind what he’s been through.

‘Awareness is important to me, isn’t it? You have x number of guys here and then you have Damar there trying to make it as normal as possible,” McDermott said. “We’re going to support him in this, and so far he’s done a phenomenal job.”

Before practice, Hamlin played catch with his younger brother, Damir. During the stretch period, the team’s head coach, Nate Breske, went over to shake Hamlin’s hand. After his press conference, Hamlin walked over to a large group of fans to sign autographs.

Hamlin’s influence is evident on the grounds of the training camp, where fans can receive CPR training in an American Heart Association tent. With his Chasing M’s Foundation, Hamlin stopped in Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Cincinnati to promote CPR training and distribute free automatic external defibrillators to sports organizations.

And he got a stunning reminder of what happened to him just before training camp started, when NBA star LeBron James’ son, Bronny, went into cardiac arrest last week during basketball practice in Southern California. He has now been released from the hospital.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott praised Hamlin and said he has done a ‘phenomenal job’

Last week, Hamlin offered support to Bronny James after he also went into cardiac arrest

LeBron James’ son, Bronny, went into cardiac arrest during practice in memory of Hamlin

“It put everything back into perspective for me,” said Hamlin, who reached out to the James family after they supported him during his recovery. “I wanted to let him know that I will be there for whatever he needs on his journey, as far as his recovery and return to his sport, if that’s what he chooses to do.”

Hamlin has made his choice and will continue to play football for as long as necessary.

Some of these emotions will never go away. If everyone stops paying attention to me, I will still process these emotions myself,” he said.

“I actually see it as a challenge,” Hamlin added. “Not too many people get to this level of overcoming something and being able to stand for so many good things. … It’s a blessed space, and it also offers a lot of opportunities, if you choose to look at it that way.’