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Damar Hamlin honored in NFL’s first game since collapse as Chiefs beat Raiders

NFL teams competed Saturday for the first time since Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed and went into cardiac arrest during Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Here’s what you need to know:

  • The Chiefs routed the Raiders 31-13 at Allegiant Stadium as players from both teams honored Hamlin with their gear.
  • Las Vegas held a “moment of support and love for Damar” prior to kickoff in which fans were encouraged to “cheer for him and his family as they continue their fight.”
  • Titans and Jaguars players also wore gear honoring Hamlin prior to their battle for the AFC South title.
  • The two teams met in the center of TIAA Bank Field and knelt in prayer together before kickoff, paying tribute to Hamlin, who made his first public comments in an Instagram post Saturday.

How teams are honoring Hamlin

In addition to a quiet moment prior to Saturday’s games, various NFL stadiums have outlined the 3 in the “30” that marks the 30-yard line in blue in honor of Hamlin, who wears the No. 3 jerseys.

What they’re saying

“It was definitely weird, man,” Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said after Saturday’s game. “It’s a game that you love and that you’ve played your entire life and you’ve had so many great moments. But obviously, with the situation that happened on Monday night with Damar, you still have that in the back of your mind, not him going down but you just want to be there for him. There’s so much stuff bigger than football.

“That was in your mind and I was just glad we were able to get out there,” Mahomes continued. “Even though we were the first team back, we were able to get through it without a lot of injuries. Guys were able to go out there and enjoy it and have fun again.”

Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones said he “definitely was affected emotionally” watching Monday night’s game.

“Going into this game, this being the first game played since that incident, it was heavy on my heart,” Jones said. “I said a prayer for him and I said a prayer for my teammates also to ensure their safety… I don’t think it’s ever out of your mind as a player. You try to mask it with what’s going on in your surroundings.”

Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby said that he and his family sent Hamlin “all our love and prayers.”

“It’s a terrifying situation,” Crosby said. “I am just happy he is OK, but if you see somebody on the field go down like that, it makes you re-evaluate everything that’s going on and what’s important. The way the Bills organization handled it was incredible.”

Backstory

Hamlin posted on social media Saturday for the first time since his collapse, writing in part “the love has been overwhelming.” Earlier Saturday, the Bills said in a statement that he remains in critical condition, but “continues to breathe on his own” and described his neurological function as “excellent.”

Doctors removed Hamlin’s breathing tube overnight Friday, and he FaceTimed with coaches and players during Friday’s team meeting. In an update provided Friday, the team said Hamlin “continues to progress remarkably in his recovery.”

Doctors also provided a health update on Hamlin at a Thursday news conference, saying the 24-year-old has made a “fairly remarkable recovery and improvement.” On Wednesday night, Hamlin was alert and able to follow commands and communicate in writing. He was unable to speak while still using a breathing tube.

While the doctors said Hamlin is at a “really good turning point,” he still has to make “significant progress” and remains in critical condition.

“There are many, many steps still ahead of him,” UC physician Timothy Pritts said. “From our standpoint, we would like to see him continue to improve, to be completely breathing on his own and then to be ready to be discharged from the hospital.”

After Hamlin collapsed, he received one defibrillation and one round of CPR on the field. He did not receive a second in the ambulance or at the hospital. Physician William Knight IV said they “cannot credit (the Bills medical staff) enough” for quickly recognizing the situation.

There are tests still occurring to determine what caused Hamlin to go into cardiac arrest. There was no comment when asked about Hamlin’s long-term prognosis and the doctors said it’s “entirely too early” to have a conversation about whether or not Hamlin can play professional football again.

What happened during Monday’s game?

Hamlin collapsed after tackling Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins late in the first quarter. Hamlin got up and took a few steps after the tackle before collapsing and going into cardiac arrest. The response on the field was immediate, as Bills medical personnel rushed to his aid and stabilized his head and neck. Doctors had to resuscitate Hamlin on the field and he was lifted off the ground in a stretcher after being worked on for 15 minutes.

Hamlin was taken from Paycor Stadium to UC Medical Center and placed in the intensive care unit in critical condition and sedated.

Hamlin named Week 18 NFLPA Community MVP

The NFL Players Association named Hamlin its Week 18 Community MVP following the millions of dollars that have been donated to his foundation’s GoFundMe page this week. Fans showed their support for him by donating to a GoFundMe page he started in 2020 for his charity, Chasing M’s Foundation, to host a toy drive in his hometown of McKees Rocks, Pa. The foundation raised money and bought toys for children affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and his foundation distributed the toys at a local daycare center in December 2020.

The GoFundMe account remained open after the 2020 toy drive, and fans have donated over $7 million as of Friday at noon ET. The website counted more than 230,000 individual donations on Hamlin’s GoFundMe page.

Required reading

For more updates on Hamlin, follow The Athletic‘s live blog or see all of our Hamlin coverage here.

(Photo: Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)

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