Bills safety Damar Hamlin to make first start since cardiac arrest

After experiencing trepidation during his comeback past year, Hamlin acknowledged helium was capable to absorption much connected shot this year.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- A twelvemonth aft making the chopped to successfully resume his shot vocation pursuing a near-death experience, Buffalo Bills information Damar Hamlin reached a caller plateau successful his comeback successful being selected a season-opening starter connected Wednesday.

Coach Sean McDermott announced the quality by saying Hamlin volition beryllium paired with Taylor Rapp erstwhile the Bills instrumentality the tract successful hosting the Arizona Cardinals connected Sunday.

"What other can't this young antheral do?" McDermott said, proudly.

"It's 1 happening to travel backmost disconnected of an ACL oregon a breached bone. It's different happening to travel backmost disconnected of what helium came backmost disconnected of, right, fto unsocial conscionable determine to play interaction football. I mean, it's incredible," helium added. "We're conscionable highly arrogant and afloat of gratitude to ticker him spell done what he's went done and wherever helium is now."

The fourth-year subordinate was hardly assured of winning a starting job, adjacent with some spots being unfastened aft Buffalo released Jordan Poyer successful March and with Micah Hyde inactive unsigned and contemplating retirement. The Bills signed fifth-year subordinate Mike Edwards successful escaped bureau and past utilized a second-round prime to draught Cole Bishop.

Edwards and Bishop, however, person missed important clip due to the fact that of injuries, and McDermott credited Hamlin for showing consistency and gathering an on-field rapport with Rapp.

The promotion for the 26-year-old Hamlin comes immoderate 20 months since helium went into cardiac arrest, aft making what appeared to beryllium a regular tackle, and needed to beryllium resuscitated connected the tract during a crippled astatine Cincinnati. He past spent 2 days successful the infirmary successful a medically induced coma earlier yet being awakened portion surrounded by his family.

Doctors diagnosed the origin of Hamlin's bosom stopping arsenic a effect of commotio cordis, which happens erstwhile a nonstop stroke astatine a circumstantial constituent successful a heartbeat causes cardiac arrest. Cleared for signifier and assured by specialists the chances of a recurrence being slim, Hamlin was gradually eased backmost into football.

He was constricted to appearing successful conscionable 5 games successful a backup and peculiar teams relation past season. In 2022, Hamlin enjoyed his astir playing clip successful starting 13 games successful spot of Hyde, who was sidelined by a cervix injury.

After experiencing trepidation during his comeback past year, Hamlin acknowledged helium was capable to absorption much connected shot this year.

"My caput is free. My tone is free. My psyche is free," Hamlin told The Associated Press past month. "I'm capable to deliberation clearly. I'm not hindered by 2nd thoughts of what could possibly hap again."

Hamlin is from the Pittsburgh country and was selected by Buffalo successful the sixth circular of the 2021 draught retired of Pitt.