A terrifying and emotional scene unfolded during Monday night’s game between the Bills and Bengals. With 5:58 left in the first quarter, Bills safety Damar Hamlin went down after getting up from a tackle by Bengal wide receiver Tee Higgins. After making the tackle, Hamlin stood up only to suddenly fall to the ground. He received immediate medical attention on the field and was transported to UC Medical Center in Cincinnati.
Hamlin, 24, went into cardiac arrest after the impact with his heartbeat restored on the field, the Bills announced in a statement Tuesday morning. The team also disclosed that Hamlin is “sedated and in critical condition.”
“Monday Night Football” between Buffalo and Cincinnati was officially postponed by the NFL shortly after 10:00 PM ET. The league issued the following statement:
Tonight’s Buffalo Bills-Cincinnati Bengals game has been postponed after the Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin collapsed, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced.
Hamlin received immediate medical attention on the field by team and independent medical personnel and local paramedics. He was later taken to a local hospital where he remains in critical condition.
Our thoughts are with Damar and the Buffalo Bills. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
The NFL has been in constant communication with the NFL Players Association, which is in agreement with the postponement of the game.
Hamlin received CPR on the field for several minutes while being placed on a stretcher and eventually in an ambulance. He was given oxygen upon entering the ambulance, which took him and some family members to the hospital.
The game was temporarily suspended after coaches Sean McDermott of the Bills and Zac Taylor of the Bengals spoke on the field. About an hour later, the NFL decided to postpone the game. He chose not to address a possible rescheduling of the game on a Monday night media call. That decision will ultimately rest in the hands of commissioner Roger Goodell.
The Bills decided to return to Buffalo early Tuesday morning. Numerous members of the Bills and Bengals visited the hospital Monday night.
Around 11:30 pm ET, Hamlin’s agent Ira Turner released a statement to NFL Media: “Please continue to pray for Damar and his family. We currently have no updates at this time. He will ask you to keep the family in your prayers.”
Hamlin is in the middle of his second season with the Bills. He earned a spot in Buffalo’s starting lineup this season after appearing in 14 games as a rookie. Hamlin played collegiately in Pittsburgh, where he had 276 tackles and six interceptions.
Hamlin’s character and work ethic led him to make the Bills’ 53-man roster as a rookie despite being a Day 3 draft pick. That same work ethic helped him become a starter this season.
“Damar has done a great job,” Bills general manager Brandon Beane said of Hamlin during his rookie training camp. “He’s a very instinctive player. … He’s a big kid, he wants it, he’s working hard and he’s giving himself every opportunity to get in the mix despite being a sixth-round pick.”
Hamlin’s injury has prompted an outpouring of emotion and support across the sports world. All NFL teams have offered their thoughts via social media. Many players have also expressed their support for Hamlin and his Buffalo teammates.
CBS Sports will provide more information on Hamlin as it becomes available.