Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin made his return to the football field on Saturday, seven months after suffering a cardiac arrest during a January game.
Hamlin made his debut in the Bills’ preseason opener win against the Indianapolis Colts, making a fourth-down tackle in the first quarter.
He played on 24 snaps and recorded three tackles.
“It was fun, it was super fun, it was a great experience, just another milestone and a step up to just getting back to myself as far as the football space,” Hamlin said after the game. “Just chopping this tree down as much as I can, one step at a time.”
The 25-year-old Hamlin suffered a cardiac after in a January game against the Cincinnati Bengals and had to be resuscitated on the field. He was diagnosed with Commotio cordis, which occurs when there is blunt trauma to the heart, usually caused by a blow.
“What we just witnessed to me is remarkable,” said Bills head coach Sean McDermott after the game. “It really is. It’s a true sign of a young man’s courage and, obviously, everyone that helped him get to this point. I know there’s a football game going on out there today, but I mean, truly remarkable display of courage and strength and faith. Had a chance to communicate with Damar a little bit last night, and he assured me he was ready to go and was going to trust in his preparation and God, and I think that shows a lot about who he is.”
Hamlin was cleared by doctors to continue his football career in April and started his comeback by participating in drills the next month, and joining his team in training camp as Hamlin prepares for his third NFL season.
His return was briefly placed on hold because of a thunderstorm rolling through the region about 75 minutes before kickoff. Players returned to the field to conduct their pregame warmup after about a half-hour delay.
After two more preseason games, Hamlin’s next hurdle will come on Aug. 29, when the Bills make their final cuts to establish their regular-season roster.
Contributing: Associated Press
