Bills' Damar Hamlin collapses on field, game temporarily suspended

A highly anticipated matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals was temporarily put on hold Monday night after Buffalo defensive back Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field.

The terrifying incident occurred with 5:58 remaining in the first quarter and Cincinnati leading the game, 7-3. The Bengals were on their second drive of the game when quarterback Joe Burrow threw a pass to Tee Higgins. Bills safety Hamlin came up for a tackle to end the play.

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Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills on the field before a game against the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium on December 11, 2022 in Orchard Park, New York.
(Timothy T. Ludwig/Getty Images)

Hamlin got up off the ground and took a few steps back before collapsing onto the grass at Paycor Stadium. Medical personnel approached Hamlin to treat him when the ESPN broadcast turned commercial. He got out a stretcher and a board and then the ambulance.

Hamlin was on the ground for a while, and several reporters indicated that he was receiving CPR from medical personnel on the ground before being loaded into the ambulance. According to FOX19, Hamlin was being rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Buffalo Bills players react as teammate Damar Hamlin is treated by medical staff, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, in Cincinnati.
(AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

The soccer world offered its prayers for Hamlin.

Play was temporarily suspended as the NFL, teams and officials determined what to do next. The players and coaches of both teams wept and prayed for the best possible result.

The Bills selected Hamlin with the 212th overall pick in the sixth round of the 2021 draft. He played in 14 games last season, mostly on special teams, in his rookie season.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen (17) pauses as teammate Damar Hamlin is treated by medical personnel, Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, in Cincinnati.
(AP Photo/Jeff Dean)