ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Damar Hamlin’s objective to resume his playing career after a near-death experience in early January became complete Sunday, when the Buffalo Bills safety took the field as part of the kickoff return unit to open a game against the Miami Dolphins.
The kickoff resulted in a touchback, but it marked a key milestone for Hamlin. He appeared in his first regular-season game about nine months since going into cardiac arrest and needing to be resuscitated on the field during a game in Cincinnati.
Hamlin also appeared on the kickoff coverage team after the Bills opened the scoring on Josh Allen’s 18-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Davis.
Hamlin was a healthy scratch through the first three games this season and got the nod to play with starting safety Jordan Poyer sidelined by a knee injury. Primary backup Taylor Rapp filled Poyer’s spot alongside Micah Hyde, with Hamlin serving as a backup against a high-powered Dolphins offense that leads the league in almost every statistical category.
The 25-year-old Hamlin was the last Bills player to exit the tunnel before kickoff. He ran the length of the field with his arms spread before taking off his helmet in the end zone and stood before a cheering crowd.
Before pregame warmups, Hamlin huddled members of the defensive secondary in the tunnel before heading out to the field.
Since being cleared to resume playing in April, Hamlin has showed no signs of tentativeness in passing every on-field test he has faced to make the Bills’ 53-player roster in August. He combined for nine tackles while appearing in all three of Buffalo’s preseason games in August.
Hamlin was starting in place of Hyde when he went into cardiac arrest after making what appeared to be a routine tackle in the first quarter against the Bengals on Jan. 2.
His heart stopped as a result of commotio cordis, which happens when a direct blow at a specific point in a heartbeat causes cardiac arrest. Doctors have assured Hamlin he can resume playing without any fear of setbacks or reoccurrence.