Bills' Stefon Diggs, others stay in Cincinnati with hospitalized Damar Hamlin: 'Had to be here for our teammate'

Jacob Camenker

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Bills' Stefon Diggs, others stay in Cincinnati with hospitalized Damar Hamlin: 'Had to be here for our teammate' image

The Bills flew home from Cincinnati after their game against the Bengals was suspended and postponed following Damar Hamlin's on-field cardiac arrest.

However, some members of the organization stayed behind to remain with Hamlin, who is in critical condition. That included star wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

Diggs went to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center — located roughly five miles from Paycor Stadium — shortly after the NFL announced that the Bills vs. Bengals game had been postponed.

MORE: Latest updates on Damar Hamlin after on-field cardiac arrest

Diggs attempted to enter the hospital but was originally stopped by a police officer at the scene, per ESPN's Coley Harvey. Diggs explained to the officer — who originally wasn't going to let Diggs in — that he was Hamlin's teammate and Harvey vouched for the receiver to get him entry to the hospital. 

"This is all so messed up," Diggs told Harvey. "We just had to be here for our teammate."

It hasn't yet been reported which other Buffalo players and staffers joined Diggs in remaining with Hamlin. Hamlin's mother was in attendance at the game and rode with her son by ambulance to the hospital.

Bengals coach Zac Taylor also was present at the UC Medical Center. It isn't clear if any other Bengals representatives joined him there.

That said, Bengals fans flocked to the hospital to show solidarity with Bills fans and offer support for Hamlin.

“I’m a Bengals fan, but that was horrible to see," Anthony Dooley told the Cincinnati Enquirer of Hamlin's on-field collapse. "He’s still a young man."

Too, the Bengals lit up Paycor Stadium blue and white in support of Hamlin and the Bills.

Jacob Camenker

Jacob Camenker Photo

Jacob Camenker first joined The Sporting News as a fantasy football intern in 2018 after his graduation from UMass. He became a full-time employee with TSN in 2021 and now serves as a senior content producer with a particular focus on the NFL. Jacob worked at NBC Sports Boston as a content producer from 2019 to 2021. He is an avid fan of the NFL Draft and ranked 10th in FantasyPros’ Mock Draft Accuracy metric in both 2021 and 2022.