Bills safety Damar Hamlin joined the team for its organized team activities at the team’s practice field Tuesday in Orchard Park, N.Y.
Hamlin’s sighting on the field comes a little more than month after he was “fully cleared” to resume football activities following his cardiac arrest during the Bills’ Monday Night Football game against the Bengals on Jan. 2 at Paycor Stadium.
Hamlin, who was wearing a pair of shorts and a blue No. 3 practice jersey, participated in Buffalo’s individual drills and stretching routines to begin and conclude practice. However, Hamlin was held back from participating in team sessions at the discretion of coaches.
Bills coach Sean McDermott told reporters he is taking things slow with Hamlin.
“We’re taking it one day at a time and just support Damar in every possible way,” McDermott said, per the Associated Press.
While Hamlin continues to prepare himself to resume football, there is no timetable set on when he will start practicing with the team on a full scale. Meantime, Bills defensive backs coach John Butler is thrilled about Hamlin’s progression and his future in the NFL, calling it a “miracle.”
“To have him out there, in the drills, in the walk-throughs, in the meetings and just around day to day, I think it’s incredible,” Butler said, per the AP. “But based on where he’s going, I think he’s definitely heading the right direction.”
As Hamlin continues to recover, he maintains a determination to play for the Bills next season.
“This was a life-changing event, but it’s not the end of my story,” Hamlin said in April.
