Photo Courtesy: Buffalonews.com)
Football is a highly physical and often dangerous sport, and the recent incident with Bills safety Damar Hamlin in the Bills-Bengals game on Monday night gives that statement even more credibility.
In a crucial matchup of what was thought to be the “game of the year” for the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills, an unexpected occurrence in the first quarter of play quickly washed away the exciting anticipation. Roughly nine minutes into the game, Damar Hamlin collapsed to the ground after completing a tackle. Almost immediately, CPR was performed on Hamlin while coaches, fans, and players watched in disbelief before the Bills safety was rushed to a nearby hospital. The game would soon be suspended and later canceled.
At first, the cause of the injury was unclear, but as the night grew, and numerous tests were taken, reports came out that Hamlin had suffered cardiac arrest. Until just recently, Damar remained in critical condition, unable to breathe and survive on his own that night and for a couple of days to follow, requiring the need for medical equipment.
The scare filled many with saddening tensions and unanswered questions continuing to result in donations, thoughts, prayers, and a pointed focus on Hamlin's recovery.
Right from when Hamlin first hit the ground, the question of whether the game would be played or not led to league-wide proposals of how the exciting conclusion of the NFL season will shape up and conclude. The main important focus right now pertains to Damar Hamlin and his path to healing.
Fortunately, at the end of the week, Hamlin was taken off breathing tubes and communicated with his team showing great signs of improvement.
Sunday will be back to normal as the regular season enters its final week before the playoffs begin on January 14th.
Many questions remain unanswered, but the Football community is united in hopes of a successful comeback for the Bills safety.