This week has been unlike any other in recent memory across the NFL, for reasons that are widely known around the world. The brutal hit taken by Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin on Monday night shook the league to its core, and Ravens players were asked for their reaction to the tragic event in Baltimore’s Wednesday press conference.
Fullback Patrick Ricard, who spoke to reporters about the incident, made it clear that the Ravens’ coaches have gone out of their way to address the team about Hamlin’s injury, and that he and his teammates have also had separate private discussions.
“[Head Coach John] Harbaugh addressed us at the start of the team meeting,” Ricard explained. “All of our coaches … At the start of the meetings this week, they all started just talking about it and just their perspective about it. Just how there are prayers and thoughts for him. I was talking to teammates; same thing, just how tragic it was. It’s just tragic. It’s one of those things where you never want to see it happen to anybody, regardless of who it is [and] what sport. You just want the best for him at this point.”
Baltimore’s Week 18 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals is sure to bring up some untapped emotions for both teams in the wake of Hamlin’s injury, especially given that the game will be played on the same field where it happened. Thoughts and prayers have been spread league-wide for Hamlin, who had positive updates shared about him on Thursday.
