Orchard Park, N.Y. (WGR 550) - For the first time since going into cardiac arrest during a Week 17 matchup with the Bengals at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin will suit up for a regular season game.
With veteran Bills safety Jordan Poyer absent for Sunday's AFC East showdown with the Miami Dolphins at Highmark Stadium, Hamlin is officially active to provide some depth behind Micah Hyde and Taylor Rapp, who's making his first start with the Bills.
Hamlin has yet to play a down in the regular season this season, but did get back to game action in the preseason, playing all three contests for the Bills, making 10 total tackles and appearing like nothing was holding him back as he battled for a roster spot.
The 25-year-old did make the Bills' original 53-man roster when the team made its cut-downs in late August.
The 2021 sixth-round pick out of the University of Pittsburgh went into cardiac arrest during Buffalo's Week 17 matchup last season against the Bengals on "Monday Night Football". This after making, what appeared to be, a routine tackle of wide receiver Tee Higgins in the first quarter of action.
After requiring CPR and the use of an AED on the field to restore his heartbeat, Hamlin spent a week at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he made remarkable progress in his recovery. After a week in Cincinnati, Hamlin was able to be transported back to Buffalo General Hospital, where he was released a short time later.
In 29 career games played, Hamlin has made 13 starts for Buffalo, registering 93 total tackles, six tackles for loss, three quarterback hits, 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble.