The Buffalo Bills will have third-year safety Damar Hamlin at full strength in training camp.
On Jan. 2, the Buffalo Bills traveled to Cincinnati to face the Bengals. The game came to a sudden halt when Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field. He suffered a cardiac arrest, which was later attributed to a rare issue termed commotio cordis, which occurs when a blow to the chest disrupts a person's heartbeat.
Hamlin spent the next week in the ICU before being airlifted to Buffalo for further treatment, where he was ultimately discharged on Jan. 11. Months later, in April, he made a commitment to return to football, telling NFL.com he has been "beating statistics [his] whole life."
Now, less than eight months removed from that tragic January night, Hamlin is a "full go" at Bills training camp, according to Bills head coach Sean McDermott.
Damar Hamlin 100 percent for Buffalo Bills training camp
All the credit in the world goes to Hamlin, who faced unthinkable odds and beat them. Hamlin will now enter his third NFL season as a beacon of hope and a paragon of the human spirit. The entire NFL fanbase will celebrate his return, and the Bills will have a fan favorite on the field when Week 1 kicks off in September.
Hamlin will rejoin a Bills safety room that includes Pro Bowlers Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer. The 25-year-old appeared in 15 games (13 starts) last season and compiled 93 tackles. A product of Pittsburgh, Hamlin will have the opportunity to carve out a significant role for one of the NFL's top defenses and, potentially, compete for a Super Bowl with one of the AFC's top contenders.
The last few months have undoubtedly been challenging for Hamlin. To move on and live a normal life after such an event would be a testament to his willpower. To return to the football field and compete in such a physical pro sport is truly incredible.
Hamlin has been active in the community since his incident, raising awareness for CPR through a partnership with the American Heart Association and raising money for first responders at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and trauma unit.
He will continue to be a force for good in Buffalo, on and off the field. Hamlin is making the most of terrible circumstances and using his platform to help prevent future incidents and benefit those less fortunate than him. It's hard to imagine a player — a person — more worthy of praise and celebration.