BREAKING NEWS: Damar Hamlin expects to be excited and emotional in return to Cincinnati

New York’s ORCHARD PARK (AP) — Damar Hamlin, a safety for the Buffalo Bills, says he has no concerns about playing or not as he gets ready to play the Bengals on Sunday night in Cincinnati as long as he stays true to himself.

Before being revived on the field on January 2, Hamlin may have gone into cardiac arrest in Cincinnati. More noteworthy, after ten months or so, is how the location and the encounter came to signify the start of the next phase of his life.

If Hamlin has discovered anything during his recuperation and valiant attempt to return to the field, it is that he is incredibly resilient.
I treasure this new life and task that I have embarked upon. Of course, it’s unique, too,” Hamlin said to The Associated Press on Tuesday.

“I’m over the moon. I am ecstatic. I am a million different things. I embody every feeling, whether positive and negative. However, that has strength,” he continued. “And I believe that facing your fears head-on and persevering through the fire are signs of strength.”

Hamlin then set aside any feelings of emotion he might be feeling for himself and focused on his team.

“Winning is what I’m focused on,” he declared. “I will convey that message to each and every one of my teammates.”

It’s no accident that Hamlin is preoccupied with victory. “Did we win?” was the first thing he spoke after emerging from a medically induced coma at a Cincinnati hospital.

It’s unlikely that Hamlin, who was sick on Wednesday and skipped practice, will play on Sunday. Since he was last on the Buffalo Bills’ safety depth chart, he has been a healthy inactive for all but one of the team’s first eight games.

The Bills continue to look up to Hamlin, regardless of his position. The third-year athlete, who was cleared for contact in April before joining the Bills’ 53-man roster in August, has not displayed any signs of fear.

Knowing Hamlin since their childhood in Pittsburgh, cornerback Dane Jackson said, “My approach is just another game, honestly.” “If he’s in a positive frame of mind and wants justice for all, then it happened to him, not to us. We experienced it, after all, but as long as he’s okay, so am I.

Safety Micah Hyde stated that Hamlin has inspired the group as a whole.

“His overall mindset is incredibly inspiring,” Hyde remarked. “I’m happy for him. And it will benefit our team to return there and return to the field, not just for D-Ham’s benefit but also for the players who were present at that game the previous year.

The 25-year-old Hamlin’s journey is coming full-circle with Buffalo’s first return to Cincinnati since he collapsed after making what appeared to be a routine tackle.

Hamlin’s heart stopped as a result of commotio cordis, which happens when a direct blow at a specific point in a heartbeat causes cardiac arrest. Doctors have assured Hamlin he can resume playing without any fear of setbacks or reoccurrence.

Hamlin acknowledged his journey hasn’t been easy, especially given the attention focused on someone who wasn’t accustomed to the spotlight growing up in the Pittsburgh exurb of McKees Rock.

“As much as I want to be a superstar, man, I don’t like the spotlight. I don’t like all the attention that comes with it, positive or negative,” he said. “But I’m here standing in front of it and I’m leading the charge, and I’m super excited to continue to do that.”

Hamlin spoke to the AP while promoting a new partnership with Abbott, a global healthcare company, which is launching a program called HeartMates. The initiative will provide survivors of heart-related issues a safe space to share their emotions, to receive emotional support and connect with others who have had similar experiences.

The ability to lean on others and voice his emotions is something Hamlin found beneficial, whether it’s sharing with friends and family or speaking to crowds at one of his many charitable events — including a stop in Cincinnati last summer — to hand out automated external defibrillators and promote CPR training.

“It’s a lonely journey going through things like this, and I’m speaking from experience,” Hamlin said. “Just having that little outlet of just allowing to release and express yourself, it’ll empty the stress cup just a little bit.”

He’s not been afraid to show vulnerability, acknowledging he had feelings of trepidation in the days leading up to his first practice in pads at training camp in July. And he credits the support he’s received from his family and teammates.

“I haven’t had all the answers throughout this process,” Hamlin said. “All I’ve been doing is just keep putting my right foot in front of the left, and just keep being who I am.”

NOTES: QB Josh Allen did not practice as part of a plan to rest an injury to his throwing shoulder, which he aggravated in a 24-18 win against Tampa Bay on Thursday night. Allen said he feels some discomfort and expects to resume practicing on Thursday. … CB Rasul Douglas watched practice from the sideline after arriving in Buffalo a day after being acquired in a trade with Green Bay. … GM Brandon Beane said the team is considering placing CB Kaiir Elam on injured reserve due to an ankle injury. ___

 

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