Damar Hamlin completed one of the most remarkable comebacks that the NFL world has ever seen during the 2023 NFL season.
Hamlin spent the 2023 offseason insisting that he would return to the Bills despite suffering an on-field cardiac arrest against the Bengals in January. Many feared for his life after his collapse and subsequent hospital stay, but he has been able to make a recovery that doctors have deemed "remarkable."
Still, there were questions about whether he would return to the field in a game scenario, but he was able to do just that four weeks into the 2023 seaosn.
So, is Damar Hamlin playing football in 2023? Here's what to know about the Bills safety's future and his amazing return to the field.
DeCOURCY: Damar Hamlin has support of friends, community because of generosity, caring
Will Damar Hamlin play football in 2023?
Yes, Damar Hamlin is playing football in 2023. He returned to play for the Bills during the preseason and made the team's 53-man roster as a result.
Hamlin has been inactive for most of the 2023 NFL season, as he is behind Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Taylor Rapp and Cam Lewis on the Buffalo depth chart. That said, he had appeared in one game for the team through Week 9 of the season, officially completing his NFL comeback.
It wasn't a surprise to see Hamlin return to the Bills. He was always planning to play in 2023. The Bills safety was first cleared to return to the field ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft in April.
"He's fully cleared, he's here and ... he's in a great headspace to come back and make his return," Bills general manager Brandon Beane said, per NPR.
Beane also outlined that Hamlin had seen multiple specialists and they were "in lockstep" over Hamlin's diagnosis. As such, it was just on Hamlin to decide if he wanted to keep playing.
He quickly announced that he would be returning to the field.
"I'm here to announce that I plan on making a comeback to the NFL," Hamlin said shortly after Beane's press conference in April, per NFL.com.
"I've been beating statistics my whole life, so I like my chances here," he added.
After that, Hamlin returned to the field for Bills minicamp, OTAs and training camp. In doing so, coach Sean McDermott has said that the safety "remains on schedule" as he attempts his comeback.
"We’re in a good spot. He’s in a good spot. We’ll continue to take it one day at a time," McDermott said, per The Buffalo News. "This is to some extent for unchartered territory for all of us. We're just trying to be the best to be there for him. … I try to keep a close guy on where he is and how he’s responding. He’s done a great job."
That painted a positive picture regarding Hamlin's preseason participation. He achieved that step and eventually got on the field in the regular season as well.
MORE: Damar Hamlin's charity receives millions in donations
What happened to Damar Hamlin?
Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest on the field in the Bills vs. Bengals game during Week 17 of the 2023 NFL regular season. He tackled Tee Higgins on an innocuous-looking play but crumpled to the turf briefly after getting back onto his feet.
At the time it wasn't immediately clear what had happened to Hamlin. However, it was later revealed that he had suffered commotio cordis, which occurs when a person takes a hard hit to the chest that causes sudden cardiac arrest.
Treatment of commotio cordis involves getting "high-quality CPR" as quickly as possible, as Dr. Manesh Patel, chief of cardiology and clinical pharmacology at Duke University, told The Sporting News.
"That is the key is to get blood flow to the brain and organs while you get an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to shock the heart back to a normal rhythm," he explained.
Bills medical staffers quickly followed this protocol and tended to Hamlin on the field. A stretcher and ambulance came out to treat him while he received CPR.
Members of the Bills and Bengals watched the situation unfold, horrified. Many members of the Bills were in tears and Hamlin was eventually taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. There, Hamlin fought for his life and was eventually able to recover thanks to the life-saving actions of the first responders.
The game was postponed and later canceled.
MORE: Damar Hamlin's journey from Pittsburgh to NFL has inspired many, including those from hometown
Damar Hamlin recovery timeline
Jan. 2, 2023 — Hamlin collapses on the field after tackling Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. He is treated quickly by the Bills' training staff but has to be taken off the field by ambulance to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. His condition, at this time, is unknown.
Jan. 3 — The Bills announce that Hamlin did, in fact, suffer a cardiac arrest. He remains at the UC Medical Center on a ventilator, but his uncle says that he is now just 50 percent on the ventilator which is a "good sign."
Jan. 4 — Hamlin remains in the ICU and in "critical condition." However, there are "signs of improvement" as he is further removed from the incident.
Jan. 5 — Mario Hamlin, Damar's father, tells the Bills players over Zoom that his son is "making progress" in his recovery. Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam tweets that Hamlin is awake while the Bills provide the most encouraging update to date.
The team says he has shown "remarkable improvement over the last 24 hours," per the physicians caring for him at UC Medical Center, and "appears to be neurologically intact." Doctors say that one of the first things he asked upon waking up was, "Did we win?"
Jan. 6 — Hamlin has his breathing tube removed and is able to talk to his family. He also FaceTimes the Bills ahead of their Week 18 game against the Patriots to tell his teammates that he loves them.
Jan. 8 — Hamlin posts a picture of himself watching the Bills vs. Patriots game in his hospital room. It is the first current image provided by Hamlin since his cardiac arrest.
GAMETIME!!! @BuffaloBills 💙 pic.twitter.com/PQYClonUHb
— 𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐥𝐢𝐧 (@HamlinIsland) January 8, 2023
Jan. 9 — After a week at the UC Medical Center, Hamlin is well enough to be transferred to Buffalo. He needs to remain hospitalized, but this marks a big step forward in his recovery.
Jan. 11 — After nine days in the hospital, Hamlin is able to go home. The Bills announce that he has been discharged from Buffalo General Medical Center after a "comprehensive medical evaluation."
"We are confident that Damar can be safely discharged to continue his rehabilitation at home and with the Bills."
Jan. 14 — Hamlin is seen visiting the Bills facility ahead of their wild-card matchup with the Dolphins. There is some talk that he will attend the game, but he does not.
Jan. 22 — Hamlin attends the Bills vs. Bengals AFC divisional playoff matchup. He receives a raucous ovation from his home crowd after being shown on the JumboTron.
It's all love for Damar Hamlin. pic.twitter.com/BbsqzFOkGV
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) January 22, 2023
Feb. 13 — Hamlin outlines his recovery from his cardiac arrest in an interview with Michael Strahan. He reveals he is physically well — having been able to start walk, eat regular food and start physical therapy in short order — but he is still struggling with the mental side of his recovery.
"I'm still working through things," he said, per ABC7 Chicago. "I'm still trying to process all the emotions and the trauma that comes from, you know, dealing with a situation like that and not really having people around or, you know, like, no one in my immediate circle who's dealt with something like that."
April 17 — Hamlin announces his intentions to play in the NFL again. Bills general manager Brandon Beane backs him in those efforts.
June 6 — For the first time since his cardiac arrest, Hamlin is a full participant at practice. This comes during Bills OTAs.
For the first time in an OTA open to the media, Damar Hamlin wore his helmet and was a full participant in practice. Big step forward. pic.twitter.com/4NVoPBhgFI
— Alaina Getzenberg (@agetzenberg) June 6, 2023
July 31 — Damar Hamlin participates in padded practice for the first time. The 25-year-old calls it "a roller coaster of emotions."
“In football, you can’t hit that field with no hesitation,” Hamlin said, per ProFootballTalk. “You’re putting yourself in more danger by doing that. I made the choice to play, but I’m processing a thousand emotions. I’m not afraid to say that it crosses my mind of being a little scared here and there. But like I say, my strength is rooted in my faith, and my faith is stronger than any fear."
Aug. 12 — Hamlin returns to the field in the Bills' preseason game against the Colts. He logs three tackles for Buffalo in its 23-19 win.
Aug. 29 — Hamlin makes the Bills' 53-man roster. He is one of five safeties to make the Buffalo squad, though there are questions about whether he will be active for the season opener.
Oct. 1 — Hamlin makes his season debut in the Bills' 48-20 win over the Dolphins. He plays 18 total snaps — all on special teams — and doesn't record a statistic.
Nonetheless, Hamlin was still understandably pleased with his ability to get on the field.
"I think it was more so about promising to myself than anything else, just showing myself that I have the courage, I have the strength, that I have the pride, everything, all those words, in me to be able to go through something traumatic and to be able to come back from it," Hamins said after the game, according to The Associated Press."To be able to still do what I love at the highest level in the world is amazing."
MORE: Full timeline of Damar Hamlin's 'remarkable' recovery from cardiac arrest, hospital release
Bills depth chart at safety
Below is a look at the seven safeties the Bills currently have on their roster:
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Micah Hyde |
| 2 | Jordan Poyer |
| 3 | Taylor Rapp |
| 4 | Cam Lewis |
| 5 | Damar Hamlin |
The trio of Hyde, Poyer and Rapp is among the best in the NFL, so their success has been part of the reason that Hamlin hasn't needed to play often during the 2023 season.
Still, Hamlin generated 91 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two pass defenses in 13 starts last season. He also plays special teams, so having a young, player like him — who has both upside and a role to play now, if needed — gives Buffalo a nice luxury on the fringes of its roster.
