Damar Hamlin: Bills safety visits teammates for 1st time since injury, source says

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Damar Hamlin visited his Buffalo Bills teammates at the team’s practice facility on Saturday for the first time since going into cardiac arrest nearly two weeks ago, according to a published report.

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Bills linebacker Matt Milano posted a photo on his Instagram stories account of Hamlin, smiling and shaking hands with a teammate.

The Associated Press, citing an anonymous source with “direct knowledge of Hamlin’s schedule,” confirmed the player’s visit.

The Bills (13-3) host the Miami Dolphins (9-8) on Sunday afternoon in an AFC wild-card playoff game. Hamlin’s presence on Saturday is the latest positive development for Hamlin, who could attend Sunday’s game, the AP reported.

Hamlin, 24, was cleared to leave a Buffalo hospital on Wednesday after undergoing final tests at Buffalo General Medical Center, two days after he was released from the University of Cincinnati Medical Center after collapsing on the field in a Jan. 2 game against the Bengals.

Dr. William Knight, a health physician at the UC Medical Center, told reporters on Monday that Hamlin has been able to walk and tolerate a “regular diet,” NFL.com reported. Knight added that Hamlin did not suffer “any cervical spine injury” and that he was able to walk with “a normal gait.”

Hamlin, playing in his second season with the Bills, tackled Cincinnati’s Tee Higgins with 5:58 left in the first quarter of a key game between two of the AFC’s best teams during the Jan. 2 game, The Buffalo News reported. The former University of Pittsburgh standout stood up but immediately collapsed to the turf. The Bills said that Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the field.

Hamlin spoke with his teammates during a Zoom call on Jan. 6 as the Bills prepared to face the New England Patriots, according to ESPN. He exchanged hand messages, flexed his muscles and spoke to them by saying, “Love you boys,” and teammates responded by clapping and cheering.

Moments after the Bills honored Hamlin in an emotional pregame ceremony, Nyheim Hines returned the opening kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. Hines later returned another kickoff 101 yards for a score as the Bills took a 35-23 victory.

Hamlin FaceTimed with the team after the victory and was presented with the game ball, NFL.com reported.

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Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapses, receives CPR on field CINCINNATI, OHIO - JANUARY 02: Tre'Davious White #27 and Mitch Morse #60 of the Buffalo Bills react to teammate Damar Hamlin #3 collapsing after making a tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals during the first quarter at Paycor Stadium on January 02, 2023 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

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