Nearly seven months after suffering cardiac arrest during a Monday Night Football game against the Bengals, Bills safety Damar Hamlin suited up to participate in a full-pads practice on Monday for the first time since his near-death experience.
After the practice, Hamlin spoke to the media for the first time since April, expressing gratitude for reaching this key checkpoint in his long journey back to football.
“It feels amazing,” Hamlin said, according to ESPN’s Alaina Getzenberg. “It’s a roller coaster of emotions. I was kind of all over the place, just kind of being back for the first time. But God don’t make no mistakes. I’m on God’s timing. As much as the NFL is on schedule and camp starts this day, this is all God’s timing.”
Hamlin had been a full participant in the team’s OTA’s, though participating in full pads was both a critical symbolic step and a pragmatic one. He has been cleared by multiple heart specialists to continue playing after nearly losing his life on Jan. 2.
“I pretty much lost my life playing this sport. So, to come back and do it all over again, it’s all over the place,” Hamlin said. “I’m rooted in my faith. I’m rooted in the love that I receive from my family, my teammates and the love all around the world. That keeps me going. And I’ve got goals that I still want to achieve within this game.”
