Everything to know about Damar Hamlin’s recovery [UPDATED]
By Josh Wilson
Buffalo Bills DE Damar Hamlin is recovering from a scary injury on Monday night. Here are all the updates we have so far.
On Monday night after making a tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals, Buffalo Bills defensive end Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest. CPR was administered on the field with players onlooking, and after nearly 10 minutes, he was loaded into an ambulance and taken to Cincinnati’s only Level 1 trauma center, the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
Hamlin has been there since Monday, and we finally have meaningful updates on his recovery coming out. Here’s everything to know so far.
Everything to know about Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s recovery
The following is in reverse chronological order and will be updated as more information comes out.
UPDATE: Friday, 10:24 a.m. ET: The Bills announced on Twitter that Damar Hamlin FaceTimed with the teamand said to them, “Love you boys.”
UPDATE: Friday, 10:20 a.m. ET: Cameron Wolfe confirmed that Damar Hamlin’s breathing tube has been removed and that he Zoomed with the Bills and is speaking.
Just talked with Damar Hamlin’s family who is absolutely elated to be talking with him and have his breathing tube removed this morning. He just finished the Zoom with Bills and at the moment talking & laughing with him.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) January 6, 2023
Report from @nflnetwork: pic.twitter.com/vQOAuGvKuE
UPDATE: Friday, 9:46 a.m. ET: According to Shams Charania, Damar Hamlin is no longer intubated and is breathing on his own.
UPDATES FROM HOSPITAL PRESS CONFERENCE: Thursday, 1:37 p.m. ET
Though there is plenty positive to take away from the updates, doctors indicated there is a long way for Hamlin to go and said next steps are breathing without a ventilator.
UC health doctors said he’s has long way to go. Next step goals are trying to get him off ventilator and breathe on his own. Eventually get him discharged from hospital and get him home.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) January 5, 2023
Doctors indicated there was, “significant concern” upon Hamlin’s arrival according to Cameron Wolfe, and the improvements they’ve seen thus far are highly encouraging and remarkable.
UC Health Dr. William Knight adds Damar Hamlin has gone through a long difficult road over the last few days. He notes Damar made an incredible & remarkable recovery — not just vital signs & response but his organs as well. Docs said there were significant concerns upon arrival.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) January 5, 2023
They also said that less than a minute elapsed between the cardiac arrest and CPR being administered.
"“We cannot credit the Bills medical team enough. It’s rare to have something this serious to happen and to recognize it so quickly.”"
He also said that on Wednesday night, Hamlin asked who won the game between the Bills and Bengals. It was later clarified that Hamlin asked that via writing, as he hasn’t spoken yet.
Last night, per Dr. Pitts, Damar Hamlin was able to follow directions and even ask who won the game. https://t.co/XosMhmLpWx
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 5, 2023
Dr. Timothy Pritts said last night Damar Hamlin woke up, followed commands & asked who won the game via writing. Pritts adds that he has not talked yet because he is still on breathing tube.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) January 5, 2023
Docs response to Q of who won the game was “yes, you’ve won. You’ve the game of life.”
The hospital’s statement confirms what the Bills said this morning.
Per University of Cincinnati Health Physicians: "We would like to share that there has been substantial improvement over the past 24 hours... As of this morning, he is beginning to awaken and it appears this his neurological condition and function is intact."
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 5, 2023
Dr. Timothy Pritts of UC Health, on Damar Hamlin: "He's made substantial improvement. It appears his neurological condition and function is intact. We are very proud to report that. ... This marks a really good turning point in his ongoing care."
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 5, 2023
"“We would like to share that there has been substantial improvement over the past 24 hours… As of this morning, he is beginning to awaken and it appears this his neurological condition and function is intact… He continues to be critically ill…. He still has significant progress he needs to make. But this marks a really good turning point in his ongoing care.”"
UPDATE: Thursday morning and early afternoon
The hospital is expected to hold a press conference at 1:30 p.m. ET. The Bills will hold a press conference where Sean McDermott and select players will be made available to the media at 4:30 p.m. ET.
Multiple positive updates came out Thursday morning. A teammate of Hamlin’s suggested he was awake. The Bills released a report saying Hamlin had significantly improved and that doctors said he was showing signs that he was neurologically intact. Ian Rapoport reported his eyes opened for the first time.
UPDATE: Wednesday
On Wednesday, a friend of Hamlin’s suggested that there was positive momentum in Hamlin’s recovery, but could not go into specifics.
UPDATE: Tuesday
On Tuesday, Hamlin’s uncle revealed he had been taken down from 100% oxygen support to 50% after being intubated on Monday night. It was also reported that Hamlin was on his stomach to relieve pressure on his lungs.
Will Damar Hamlin play football again?
Doctors helping Damar Hamlin through his recovery said in a press conference on Thursday that it is too soon to determine whether or not Hamlin will be able to play football again.
Next. Everything to know about Bills-Bengals resumption: When, where, and how game will be played [UPDATED]. dark