CINCINNATI — The Monday Night Football recreation between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals was postponed after Bills security Damar Hamlin, 24, collapsed on the sector after a collision within the first quarter and was taken away by ambulance in crucial situation, in keeping with an announcement from the N.F.L.
With six minutes remaining within the first quarter, and the Bills trailing, 7-3, Hamlin tackled Bengals receiver Tee Higgins after a 13-yard catch. Higgins rammed into Hamlin at full velocity, showing to hit him within the head and chest space. Hamlin rapidly stood up, took two steps, collapsed backward and his physique went limp.
Medical personnel administered CPR and attended to him for 10 minutes as gamers from each groups had been visibly upset, some shedding tears on the sideline whereas others circled collectively and knelt in prayer. One medical skilled appeared to manage an IV. Hamlin was later positioned on a stretcher and transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
Fans in attendance at Paycor Stadium, who had been silent by way of the ordeal, applauded because the ambulance departed. A Bills spokesman didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark, and a date for resuming the sport was not introduced.
The N.F.L. Players Association said in a statement that it had been in contact with gamers from each groups and with the N.F.L. “The only thing that matters at this moment is Damar’s health and well being,” the assertion mentioned.
Hamlin, a second-year participant drafted out of Pittsburgh, had been within the beginning lineup since September due to accidents within the Buffalo secondary. Within an hour of his hospitalization, a toy drive led by Hamlin’s charitable basis had obtained greater than $650,000 through a crowdfunding web site.
Players from across the N.F.L. rapidly voiced their concern on social media. “Praying hard… please be okay man,” Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes said in a post to his Twitter account.
“The game is not important,” J.J. Watt of the Arizona Cardinals wrote in a post. “Damar Hamlin’s life is important. Please be ok. Please.”
Earlier within the first quarter, Bills cornerback Taron Johnson left the sport with a head damage after trying to deal with Bengals tight finish Hayden Hurst. Johnson was attended to on the sector by group trainers for a number of minutes earlier than strolling off.
Hamlin’s was the most recent of a slew of high-profile accidents this season which have prompted recent criticism of the N.F.L. over participant security. On Sunday, Indianapolis Colts quarterback Nick Foles left a recreation after being sacked by the Giants linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, who celebrated the hit as Foles appeared to convulse on the sector. Foles was carted off however was listed with rib damage.
On Sept. 29, Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa was transported to the hospital after slamming his head in opposition to the turf in a recreation in opposition to the Bengals. Tagovailoa instantly raised his palms and his fingers had been splayed, a gesture known as a “fencing response” that may be an indication of mind damage.
Tagovailoa was recognized with a concussion and later traveled again with the group, however the second known as larger consideration to an investigation launched the week prior, collectively performed by the league and the N.F.L. Players Association, into how the Dolphins responded after he appeared to undergo a concussion in a recreation in opposition to the Bills 4 days earlier.
The investigation discovered that the group had adopted the league’s concussion protocol, however the N.F.L. and the gamers’ union agreed to amend the procedures to ban a participant from returning to play if he reveals ataxia, a time period describing impaired steadiness or coordination brought on by harm to the mind or nerves. Under the earlier protocol, gamers who exhibited “gross motor instability” — problem getting up or strolling, for instance — may return to play if medical doctors determined there was an orthopedic purpose for his unsteadiness.
Tagovailoa was once more recognized with a concussion after being sacked on Dec. 25 in a recreation in opposition to the Green Bay Packers.
This is a growing story and will probably be up to date.
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