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Watch Damar Hamlin pump up Bills fans during AFC Divisional Round (Video)

Mark Powell
Mark Powell

Fansided

Jan 15, 2023; Orchard Park, NY, USA; Buffalo Bills fans cheer and hold a sign in support of safety Damar Hamlin (not pictured) before a NFL wild card game against the Miami Dolphins at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills was an inspiration to the team during the AFC Divisional Round, as he showed up in person for their game.

Regardless of the end result, the fact Damar Hamlin can show up in person to watch the Bills take on the Cincinnati Bengals is an incredible feat.

Hamlin was injured the last times these two teams matched up in Cincinnati. It’s been nearly three weeks since Hamlin collapsed on the field after a collision with Tee Higgins of the Bengals. At the time, Hamlin needed nearly 10 minutes of CPR and was taken via ambulance to a nearby hospital.

The Bills defensive back was placed on a ventilator, but thankfully recovered enough to breathe on him own a few days later.

Damar Hamlin is an inspiration to Bills

The Bills-Bengals matchup from a few weeks ago was postponed and eventually canceled altogether. Hamlin has since returned to Buffalo and even visited with teammates at the facility. His football future is unknown at this time, but we likely won’t see him on a field for quite awhile.

Hamlin’s road back should be a long one. For now, though, he can watch his teammates on the field in an attempt to make the AFC Championship Game without him. Were that to happen, the game would be played at a neutral site in Atlanta.

On Sunday afternoon, Hamlin was shown on the Bills jumbotron and to the folks at home.

If that doesn’t make you tear up a little, nothing will.

Here’s to a speedy recovery for Hamlin.

Mark Powell

Mark Powell

Pittsburgh-based journalist and FanSided content director Mark Powell has spent nearly a decade covering the MLB, NFL, NHL and NCAA. He is the lead MLB editor and runs the news desk for FanSided.com. Before working at FanSided, Mark spent time in various sports-related roles at Minute Media, including at 12up, and writing about the Pittsburgh Penguins and Pittsburgh Pirates as an editor for AT&T Sportsnet. Mark has covered everything from March Madness and MLB Playoffs to the NFL Playoffs and Stanley Cup Finals. Always @ him.