Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin returned to practice on Tuesday donning his signature No. 3 blue practice jersey at the team’s volunteer mini-campground.
His return was extraordinary, just five months after he had to be revived on the field on January 2 following his clash with Cincinnati Bengals Tee Higgins in scenes that rocked the NFL.
The 25-year-old was recently cleared by doctors to return to football after his cardiac arrest. At a recent press conference, Hamlin said commotio cordis was the cause.
Although he did not participate in team sessions, Hamlin participated in individual drills and the stretches to open and end training as he took the next steps towards resuming his football career.
“We’re taking it day by day and supporting Damar in every way we can,” said coach Sean McDermott.
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin returned to training on Tuesday five months after his collapse
The 25-year-old participated in individual exercises and stretches
Furthermore, he has not given a timetable for when the player can fully resume practice.
Defensive backs coach John Butler shed more light on the team’s approach to Hamlin’s practice routine, saying it relies on constant communication between the player and the Bills medical staff.
“This is Damar’s trial,” Butler said. “All we can do is listen, communicate with him and try to get to the same level as him.”
The Bills’ slow approach to Hamlin’s participation seems consistent with how they’ve helped other players coming off serious injuries. And it’s understandable with regard to Hamlin, given the amount of time he missed during a lengthy recovery process that restricted him from much physical exertion before signing up for Tea’s voluntary exercise program last month.
Hamlin tackled Bengals receiver Higgins during the Week 17 game before getting back to his feet, staggering and collapsing on the turf of Paycor Stadium, where he required CPR.
He was administered oxygen, placed on a stretcher and rushed to a local hospital in critical condition. In his own words, ‘died on national TV’.
There was widespread speculation that Hamlin had suffered from commotio cordis, but that diagnosis was only confirmed last month at a news conference, where the Pittsburgh resident said he hopes to raise awareness about the condition.
Hamlin still needed a ventilator to help him breathe for several weeks after he was released from hospital in mid-January.
He was held back from participating in team sessions when the Bills brought him back in
Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott said they were taking Hamlin’s return one day at a time
He has made it clear that he wants to play again. Hamlin said his heart was still in the game and announced his NFL comeback just over a month ago after being cleared to play by the Bills and several independent specialists.
Reluctant to give in to fear and anxiety, Hamlin said there was little chance the episode would recur upon revealing specialists agree that his heart stopped as a result of commotio cordis, which is a direct blow at a specific point in a heartbeat that causes cardiac arrest.
“This was a life-changing event, but it’s not the end of my story,” Hamlin said last month.
With his focus now on resuming football, Hamlin’s next steps will be no different than any other NFL player in his bid to secure a roster spot before the start of his third season. The Bills have two more weeks of voluntary drills before a mandatory mini-camp opens in mid-June, followed by the opening of a training camp in late July.
Players stand together after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) collapsed in Cincinnati
“It’s a miracle,” Butler said, assessing how far Hamlin has come since January.
“To have him there, in the drills, in the walk-throughs, in the meetings and just day-to-day, I think it’s incredible,” he added. “But based on where he’s going, I think he’s definitely going in the right direction.”
Hamlin’s recovery has been called remarkable by doctors who treated him. He spent the first few days of his recovery in a medically induced coma at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. His motor and cognitive skills quickly returned and he spent 10 days in hospitals in Cincinnati and Buffalo before being released.
Hamlin’s collapse sparked an outpouring of support from across the NFL and across North America, with donations to Hamlin’s charitable organization exceeding $9 million. And his recovery was celebrated, with the player honored by the NFL, the NFL Players Association and most recently selected by the Professional Football Writers of America as the winner of the George Halas Award, which is given to an NFL player, coach or staff . member who overcomes adversity to succeed.