Damar Hamlin claimed there was “nothing he wants more than to run out of the tunnel with his teammates” as the Buffalo Bills prepared for their first game since security forces went into cardiac arrest on Sunday.
The 24-year-old has continued to make positive strides since collapsing on the field in the first quarter of the Bills’ game against the Cincinnati Bengals Monday night.
Ahead of Buffalo’s Week 18 game against the New England Patriots at 1 p.m. Sunday, Hamlin took to Twitter to support his teammates.
Damar Hamlin shared the first picture of himself from his hospital bed in Cincinnati
Hamlin claimed there was “nothing he wants more than to run out of the tunnel with his teammates” as the Bills prepare to take to the field for the first time since his collapse
GameDay.. Nothing I want more than running through this tunnel with my brothers. God uses me differently today. Tell someone you love them today! π«ΆπΎ3οΈβ£ Let’s go @BuffaloBills β€οΈπ pic.twitter.com/XgA7S3Bpvn
β πππ¦ππ« πππ¦π₯π’π§ (@HamlinIsland) January 8, 2023
He revealed he was keen to go to the field with his “brothers,” but insisted God was using him “in a different way today.”
Sharing a video of him running out of the tunnel during a previous Bills game, he wrote, “GameDay.. Nothing I want more than running out of this tunnel with my brothers. God uses me differently today. Tell someone you love them today! let’s go @BuffaloBills.’
Hamlin’s Game Day tweet comes after he took to social media in an emotional statement on Saturday night to thank fans for their support for the first time since suffering cardiac arrest.
The 24-year-old took to Twitter to support his team-mates ahead of their Week 18 game
Although he wanted to be with his “brothers,” Hamlin said God used him in other ways
Bills Security wrote on Instagram: “When you put true love into the world, it comes back to you three times as much.
βThe love was overwhelming, but I am grateful for every single person who prayed and reached out for me. We brought the world back together (sic).
“If you know me, you know that this will only make me stronger. On a long way keep on praying for me.’
He posted a similar message on Twitter, writing, “Bringing love into the world comes back three times as much… grateful to all who reached out and prayed.
Hamlin took to social media for the first time since suffering cardiac arrest on Saturday
A fan holds a sign in support of Hamlin ahead of Sunday’s Bills-Patriots game
“This will strengthen me on the road to recovery, keep praying for me!”
Hamlin collapsed and had to be resuscitated on the field after suffering cardiac arrest after a tackle with Cincinnati Bengals’ Tee Higgins in the first quarter of the Monday Night Football game.
On the game, the 6-foot, 200-pound Hamlin was injured, Higgins leading with his right shoulder that hit the defensive back in the chest. Hamlin then wrapped his arms around Higgins’ shoulders and helmet to pull him down.
Hamlin stood up quickly, seemed to be adjusting his face mask with his right hand, then fell back about three seconds later and lay motionless.
Surrounded by players from both sides, Bills safety received treatment for 16 minutes before being immobilized and taken off the field to hospital.
Although he remains in critical condition, Hamlin has shown encouraging signs in recent days.
Hamlin is pictured with his mother Nina before a Pitts game against Boston College in 2019
Doctors said Saturday his neurological function was “excellent” and he is now breathing without a tube.
The Bills released the details on Saturday with the statement on their official Twitter account, “According to doctors at UC Medical Center, Damar is making further progress in his recovery but remains in critical condition.
“He continues to breathe on his own and his neurological function is excellent.”
The Bills were in for a big surprise on Friday when Hamlin FaceTimed them, said “I love you boys” and flexed his arm muscles after removing his breathing tube.
Bill’s head coach Sean McDermott spoke to the press after interacting with Hamlin and attempted to describe the scene to reporters, but admitted he “probably won’t be able to do it justice.”
Bill’s head coach Sean McDermott announced that the team had received a FaceTime from Hamlin
“Amazing, touching to see Damar,” McDermott began. ‘No. 1, through my own eyes. I know this is something I’ve been looking forward to, kinda gotta see it I guess. And then watching the reaction in the room with the players and the staff and the team.’
The NFL confirmed earlier this week that the crucial game between the Bills and Bengals will not resume, with playoff adjustments being made if the cancellation affects the AFC championship game.
Although the MNF showdown is not continuing, the entire league’s Week 18 table has continued with the Bills versus the Patriots on Sunday.
In the team’s first media availability since its collapse, McDermott claimed that the Bills “owed it” to Hamlin to play Sunday’s game.
Pressing why his team need to play this weekend, McDermott revealed Hamlin’s father Mario had told them it was what his son would want.
He said: “I absolutely believe that Damar would have wanted exactly what his father Mario said to us. We owe it to Damar and his family.β
The Titans and Jaguars gathered to pray for Hamlin ahead of their Saturday game
The Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars already played on Saturday, with both picking up victories over the Las Vegas Raiders and Tennessee Titans respectively.
Ahead of Saturday’s late game kick-off, the Titans and Jaguars gathered to pray for Hamlin during their warm-up at center field.
Hamlin took to Twitter again minutes later to say: “Love is palpable and extremely real.
‘Regardless of race or religion, come together in prayer!’