NFL’s Damar Hamlin has ‘signs of improvement’ but still critical

 The Buffalo Bills gather as an ambulance parks on the field while CPR is administered to Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) after a play in the first quarter of the NFL Week 17 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Buffalo Bills at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Greene-USA TODAY Sports

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who suffered a cardiac arrest during an NFL game, was improving Wednesday but still in critical condition as other players began preparing for weekend contests.

The 24-year-old defensive back collapsed Monday night after receiving a hard hit in the chest while tackling Cincinnati receiver Tee Higgins during the first quarter.

Medical workers restored Hamlin’s heartbeat on the field and he was taken from the stadium to a hospital by ambulance, while the game was halted with the host Bengals leading 7-3.

“Damar remains in the ICU (intensive care unit) in critical condition with signs of improvement noted yesterday and overnight,” the Bills said Wednesday in a statement.

“He is expected to remain under intensive care as his health care team continues to monitor and treat him.”

Fans gathered outside the Bills’ home stadium to conduct a prayer vigil for Hamlin.

“Right now things are moving in a positive direction,” said Jordon Rooney, a friend and marketing representative of Hamlin.

US President Joe Biden spoke at length with Hamlin’s parents and told reporters when asked about the NFL that “… it is dangerous. We’ve got to just acknowledge it.”

NFL players returned to workouts on Wednesday ahead of the final weekend of regular-season games, with the New England Patriots set to visit the Bills on Sunday.

“We’re all handling it in different ways,” Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins said.

The Bills conducted team meetings and a walkthrough practice session Wednesday but media sessions were canceled.

NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent said NFL officials have not spoken about canceling the Bills-Patriots game, but said Bills coach Sean McDermott and Buffalo players will guide such matters.

“We’ve not had that discussion,” Vincent said. “We’ll allow Sean, his team, his staff and the players — which are the most important thing here — to guide us if we have to make that decision.”

The NFL says the Bills-Bengals game, a key game for playoff seeding, will not be completed this week and might never be finished.

“Everything is being considered,” Vincent said.

An NFL spokesman said a decision would be made “in the coming days” in consultation with the Bills and Bengals.

Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow said his team will support whatever the Bills decide.

“Whatever Buffalo would want to do would be what we would want to do as well,” he said. “We’re behind them 100% in whatever they would decide.”

In the meantime, NFL players still coping with the shock of Hamlin’s injury were preparing to return to the gridiron. That included the Bengals, who entertain Baltimore on Sunday.

“It’s a weird feeling going back to business as usual,” Burrow said. “Unfortunate as it is, we’ve got a game to play on Sunday. I don’t know what to say. It’s such a scary, emotional time.”

Burrow said he wanted to play to try and get back to normal as quickly as possible but admitted feelings were mixed about playing Sunday.

“We haven’t had that discussion as a team,” Burrow said. “There were definitely some side discussions about that.

“I’m sure if you polled the locker room there would be mixed votes… I think playing is going to be tough.”

Bengals coach Zac Taylor said it was important to move forward yet offer support to those struggling to cope.

“We can still provide support for the players that need more of that,” Taylor said. “You’re able to have space to do that and at the same time move forward as a team to focus on Baltimore on Sunday.”

 ‘Nobody is fine’

Jan 2, 2023; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Buffalo Bills cornerback Siran Neal (33) reacts as Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) is tended to on the field and taken off by ambulance in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports

That same difficult balance was being attempted around the league.

“Nobody is fine,” Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said. “It’s definitely a heavy, sensitive day.

“We obviously know what’s in front of us professionally. Our spirituality playbook was open today and we’re working through it.”

A GoFundMe page for Hamlin’s youth charity foundation, which the family said will also be used to support “Damar’s current battle” had raised more than $6.8 million.