Damar Hamlin update: Everything to know after Bill DB stretchered off field

Bills safety Damar Hamlin had CPR administered on the field and had to be taken out in an ambulance after a terrifying injury. Here is what is known.

Monday Night Football between the Bills and Bengals was suspended temporarily after Damar Hamlin had to be taken off the field in an ambulance.

Hamlin got up briefly after tackling a Bengals receiver but fell back to the ground unmoving. Trainers rushed out to treat him and an ambulance was called for quickly as the gravity of the situation became clear.

For almost 10 minutes, Hamlin received treatment on the field, including CPR. When he was finally stretchered into the ambulance, he was reportedly being given oxygen.

The game was initially suspended temporarily.

Damar Hamlin update: Everything to know after Bill DB stretchered off field

UPDATE Thursday 10:45 a.m. ET: 

Damar Hamlin has opened his eyes, is responsive, and has made incredible progress according to doctors over the last 24 hours.

UPDATE Wednesday, 9:37 a.m. ET:

Damar Hamlin’s friend, Jordon Rooney, said “doctors overnight got promising readings that they had been hoping to see by this morning. Jordon couldn’t go into specifics, but progress appears to be made,” per ESPN’s Coley Harvey.

UPDATE Tuesday, 10:14 p.m. ET: 

Hamlin’s uncle said the next step is getting him to breathe on his own. Doctors have also flipped Hamlin on his stomach in order to relieve the pressure on his lungs.

UPDATE Tuesday, 7:17 p.m. ET:

Damar Hamlin’s uncle spoke to a reporter and said the Bills DB had previously required 100% oxygen but had been taken down to only need 50% now.

UPDATE Tuesday, 1:45 p.m. ET:

The Bills released a statement updating Damar Hamlin’s condition.

UPDATE Tuesday, 12:35 p.m. ET:

Bengals owner Mike Brown released a statement Tuesday afternoon.

UPDATE Tuesday, 11:49 a.m. ET: 

Hamlin’s family has released an update.

UPDATE Tuesday, 9:14 a.m. ET:

According to Vic Carucci, the NFL is considering various options for resuming the game. If it is to be played this week, it needs to be within two days. The league could also add a 19th week to the season and play the game then.

UPDATE 10:31 p.m. ET: 

According to Jordan Rooney, Hamlin’s marketing rep, “his vitals are back to normal and they have put him to sleep to put a breathing tube down his throat. They are currently running tests.”

Further updates are not expected from the hospital.

What happened to Damar Hamlin?

This is what happened on the play after Hamlin hit Tee Higgins:

https://twitter.com/thesportsontap/status/1610096111095799809

The fact that an ambulance was so quickly brought directly onto the field spoke to how serious the situation was.

Players from both teams looked shaken as the MNF broadcast confirmed that the medical professionals were performing CPR on the field.

Players gathered around the ambulance as Hamlin was loaded into it. The Bills team knelt together in prayer as he was driven off.

https://twitter.com/BuffaloBills/status/1610097661331341312

The ambulance headed for the hospital once Hamlin’s mother was brought over from the stands.

His ambulance made it to the hospital at 9:30 p.m. ET.

While the initial plan appeared to be to continue playing, the coaches came together and a decision was made to temporarily suspend the game. Both teams went back to the locker room.

Joe Danneman of FOX19 reported that Hamlin “has a pulse, but is not breathing on his own.” He was taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, which is the same hospital that treated Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa in September after he suffered head and neck injuries.

Tricia Macke of FOX19 added later that Hamlin “has been intubated and is currently listed in critical condition.”

The NFL had not made a decision on whether to continue the game but equipment managers were seen packing up equipment and players were reportedly out of uniform in their locker rooms.

The NFL officially suspended play at 10:00 p.m. ET.

Here is the statement they released:

NFL players, fans and media showed support for Damar Hamlin

All the while, there was an outpouring of support from the NFL community.

https://twitter.com/EricLeGrand52/status/1610098330368892931

https://twitter.com/TimTebow/status/1610098645981970434

https://twitter.com/AndrewWhitworth/status/1610099602145030144

https://twitter.com/NFLPA/status/1610097598286925825

https://twitter.com/Trent/status/1610103673278894080

Who is Damar Hamlin?

Hamlin is a 24-year-old second-year pro from McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania.

He played college ball at Pitt before being drafted by the Bills in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

When Micah Hyde went down with an injury early in the 2022 season, Hamlin stepped into a starting role. In 13 starts, he had 91 tackles.

Many on Twitter who know him personally shared links related to his charitable work back home.

https://twitter.com/Schultz_Report/status/1610118553629519874

https://twitter.com/Goodable/status/1610110582128087041

This article will be updates as more information on Damar Hamlin’s condition is learned.