Damar Hamlin returns to Bills: Latest updates as safety plays first NFL game since cardiac arrest

Joe Rivera

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Damar Hamlin returns to Bills: Latest updates as safety plays first NFL game since cardiac arrest image

Comeback complete. 

When the Bills took the field vs. the Dolphins on Sunday afternoon, it was a little more than a game for Buffalo. That's because the Bills are welcoming back Damar Hamlin, who nearly died on the field earlier this year.

Hamlin was inactive for the first three games of the 2023 season, but made his return to the Bills' gameday roster for a massive matchup vs. the AFC East-leading 'Phins. It's unclear just how much playing time Hamlin will get, but he figures to have a sizable role in the team's special teams unit, according to NFL Network reporter Stacey Dales.

MORE: Follow Damar Hamlin's return vs. the Dolphins live

While Hamlin has been back on the practice fields since the start of training camp, this weekend figures to be the first bit of regular season action for Hamlin since he collapsed on the field in January. He put up 80 snaps in the preseason, playing well and without incident.

Now, Hamlin is back on the field for the Bills, making his return to the highest level official. 

What happened to Damar Hamlin?

On Jan. 3, Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest in a matchup vs. the Bengals after a tackle attempt on Cincinnati wide receiver Tee Higgins. He was resuscitated on the field and was sent to a hospital to continue his recovery. 

Hamlin spent the next nine days in the hospital — first in Cincinnati before being transferred to Buffalo — where he was listed in critical condition.

Hamlin made something of a miraculous recovery from the incident, as he had his breathing tube removed in seven days, and was released from the hospital in nine days. 

The third-year safety would miss the remainder of the season, but after extensive visits with doctors, he would be cleared to return to football activities. Hamlin would return to the field in the offseason and play in the preseason for Buffalo.

Now, he's back with the Bills, rounding out the miraculous recovery. 

Did Damar Hamlin play today?

Hamlin did make his return vs. the Dolphins, the first time that he's seen regular season action with the Bills since he suffered cardiac arrest on Jan. 3. 

Hamlin, the safety, played on special teams in the matchup, seeing little action through the afternoon.

Damar Hamlin stats

Hamlin played solely on special teams in his return vs. the Dolphins, but he did record a tackle in the matchup. It was his sole tackle on the day.

 

Joe Rivera

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Joe Rivera is in his seventh year with The Sporting News, handling NFL, MLB and some things pro wrestling. A proud-ish Rutgers University graduate, Rivera combines a new-school flair with an old-school soul. He loves dingers, wrestling, comic books, movies, music and really bad puns. He is also a card-carrying BBWAA member and teaches Multimedia Sports Reporting at his alma mater.

You can find him and tweet him @JoeRiveraSN, if you're into that sort of thing.