Buffalo Bills Safety Damar Hamlin Overcomes Heart Health Scare to Resume Training Camp

Pittsford, New York. Of the myriad emotions — including fear — that Damar Hamlin felt Monday as he donned the protective shoulder pads for the first time in training camp, the one emotion she ultimately won was joy.

After everything the Bills safety has been through in the seven months since he went into cardiac arrest in a game and had to be resuscitated on the field, Hamilton leaned on his faith in God and himself, as well as in the support of his family and colleagues to be able to resume his career.

“It’s another milestone on the road, it may be one of the greatest,” Hamlin acknowledged after practice. “I made the decision to play. But I have had to process thousands of emotions.”

Hamlin was cleared to start training with Buffalo in mid-April. He did it in a helmet and shorts in the spring session with his teammates and on the first four days of training camp, according to NFL rules.

But the magnitude of what it means for Hamlin to don the shoulder pads was not lost on him, given that it was the first time he had donned the uniform since collapsing on the court Jan. 2 in Cincinnati after an apparent routine tackle on the wide receiver. The Bengals Tee Higgins.

“I feel very blessed to be able to get back to doing what I love,” Hamlin admitted. “Trying to keep everything as normal as possible.”

After an hour of training, Hamlin realized normality when he first walked onto the field for a try in the 20-yard zone, where tackles are allowed.

On the second play, Hamlin didn’t falter and moved toward Damien Harris to wrap both arms around him.

“The first moment of contact was to make things clear. I felt alive, I feel like I’m here,” Hamlin said with a smile.

The 25-year-old from Pittsburgh begins his third season in the NFL. After being selected in the sixth round of the 2021 draft, he started the previous season as a backup. He started 13 games after Micah Hyde suffered a neck injury.

This year he’s fighting free agent Taylor Rapp for the backup job, behind Hyde and Jordan Poyer. Hamlin’s next hurdle will be Aug. 12 in the Bills’ preseason opener at home against Indianapolis.

2023-07-31 23:09:02
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