The football world was shaken by the on-field collapse of Bills safety Damar Hamlin during a Week 17 game against the Bengals earlier in January.
Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after a routine tackle in the first quarter and needed to be resuscitated on the field before being transported to a Cincinnati trauma center.
The critical Week 17 matchup between Buffalo and Cincinnati was suspended and ultimately canceled, with the Bills flying back home that same night. What followed was an unprecedented outpouring of support from not just the NFL community but the entire sports world and beyond.
Fortunately, the news since the night of Hamlin's collapse has continually been positive, and the mood will be one of celebration when the Bills and Bengals meet again in the divisional round this weekend.
MORE: Damar Hamlin live-tweets Bills' game vs. Patriots from hospital bed
Here are the latest updates on Hamlin's recovery as these two AFC contenders face off.
Damar Hamlin recovery update
Hamlin has made a swift recovery, largely due to the initial actions by the Bills' medical staff on the night he collapsed.
According to the doctors who treated him at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, quick and decisive action on the field helped not only save Hamlin's life but also kept his neurological function intact.
Hamlin was doing well enough to be transferred to a Buffalo hospital just a week after his collapse, and he was discharged from that facility two days later.
While the progress Hamlin has made is outstanding, there are still hurdles to clear. Family friend Jordon Rooney told ESPN on Thursday that Hamlin "still requires oxygen and is having his heart monitored regularly," adding that he "gets winded very easily."
MORE: Meet Denny Kellington, rest of Bills medical staff credited with saving Damar Hamlin's life
After the Bills held on to beat the Dolphins in the wild-card round and advance to this weekend's matchup with the Bengals, more positive news followed. Bills coach Sean McDermott said Hamlin has been at the team's facility "almost daily" this past week.
One step at a time. 🫶#LoveForDamar | #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/17wF7mYYOG
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) January 18, 2023
McDermott said that while Hamlin isn't participating in team meetings, the safety is "dipping his toe back in here and you know, getting on the road to just getting back to himself."
MORE: Emotional Bills dedicate win vs. Patriots to Damar Hamlin: 'We did it for 3'
Hamlin first returned to the Bills facility the day before the team's game against the Dolphins, remarkably just 12 days after his life-threatening emergency in Cincinnati.
My heart is with my guys as they compete today! 🫶🏾
— 𝐃𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐦𝐥𝐢𝐧 (@HamlinIsland) January 15, 2023
Supporting from home as I focus on my recovery. Nothing I want more than to be out there with them! LFG ❤️💙 #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/gPGp5MiQEz
While the path to recovery will continue to be a long one for Hamlin, he was standing up, walking around, eating normally, and posting on social media within days of his collapse, so the prognosis continues to be positive.
