Bills, Bengals players send out prayers for Damar Hamlin
Bills and Bengals players expressed love and support for Damar Hamlin after the Bills DB collapsed and was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
The Bills and Bengals had to grapple with the unthinkable on Monday night. Instead of spending the night battling for position in the AFC playoff race, they spent it in prayer and worry.
In the first quarter of Monday Night Football, Bills safety Damar Hamlin tackled Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. The defensive back got to his feet and then collapsed back to the ground.
The scene was horrifying as trainers rushed to tend to Hamlin. He needed CPR on the field while being worked on for almost 10 minutes. During that time, distraught Bills and Bengals players watched and prayed.
With the game ultimately suspended, the players went back to their locker room and had to process the situation.
Bills and Bengals players sent out prayers and support for Damar Hamlin
Many Bills players remained at the stadium past midnight, staying together while waiting for news or developments.
However, wide receiver Stefon Diggs wasn’t content with waiting around. He literally walked to the UC hospital and talked his way into the ER.
Quarterback Josh Allen, who was visibly shaken on the field, sent out a simple tweet calling for prayers.
“Please pray for our brother,” Allen wrote.
Other Bills players had similar messages.
Buffalo guard Rodger Saffold spoke on Hamlin as a person.
“Damar Hamlin is a kind caring extremely hard worker. He is loyal honest and can always put a smile on your face. He is more than an athlete, he is a son and brother. I pray God gives him mercy and brings him back to us,” he wrote.
Offensive tackle Dion Dawkins called for prayer as well.
“Prayer is power and Prayer is POWERFUL we need the world to pray for Damar Hamlin and his family #Love #3,” he wrote.
According to reports, Bengals captains like Joe Burrow did what they could to support the other team.
Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase tweeted out a prayer for Hamlin.
FOX compiled a set of tweets from players around the league to represent the outpouring from fellow NFL players.
Monday’s situation was unprecedented and frightening. No one, not players, media or fans, was prepared for what happened to Hamlin. The only thing the NFL world can do at this point is to come together while hoping and praying for a positive outcome.
