Damar Hamlin continues to make progress on his hopeful return to game action for the Buffalo Bills, as he was seen wearing a helmet for the first time at practice Tuesday.
Hamlin returned to the field in May, but was limited to one-on-one drills on the side without wearing a helmet during the media portions of practice as the Bills remained cautious. GM Brandon Beane added that he was using it, just not for the media to see.
Either way, they clearly saw what they needed to in terms of their progression with Hamlin participating in team drills on Tuesday.
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Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin (3) exercises during an NFL football practice in Orchard Park, NY on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
Beane told ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg that he is «really proud» of Hamlin for reaching this step in his recovery since he went into cardiac arrest in January during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
However, ESPN added that Hamlin had a bit of an injury scare during the practice session, as he went up on a contested ball and was slow to get up. He was with trainers looking at his right arm/shoulder area, and was seen pulling the helmet away from him in frustration.
That frustration was short-lived, however, as he returned to the field participating in drills with his teammates shortly after being checked.
Hamlin was a happy camper, you could tell, as the Bills posted photos of him raising his now-signature heart-shaped hands.
However, Hamlin’s timeline is still up in the air, as head coach Sean McDermott and Beane have not laid out the plan.
There’s still plenty of time before the Bills’ first preseason game hits the schedule, though training camp will begin in late July.
Buffalo Bills security Damar Hamlin attends an event with lawmakers to introduce the AED Access Act on March 29, 2023 in Washington, DC. Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who went into cardiac arrest during a game, helped introduce the bill that would improve student access to defibrillators in public and private elementary and secondary schools. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Hamlin has come a long way since that fateful night in Cincinnati when he said, «I died on national television,» after coaches and medical staff saved his life by performing CPR on the field while all the onlookers were stunned watching from the sidelines. stands and at home. .
But a horrific scene quickly became a story of hope and determination for Hamlin, who ran with all the support he was receiving inside and outside the NFL.
His football career was in serious jeopardy, but now that he’s back on the field, we may see Hamlin donning his pads and wearing his number 3 for the Bills at some point this season.
Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin (3) exercises during an NFL football practice in Orchard Park, NY on Tuesday, May 23, 2023. (AP Photo/Jeffrey T. Barnes)
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The Bills will have their mandatory minicamp next week June 13-15.