Bills' Damar Hamlin discusses return to site of medical emergency

While the 5-3 Buffalo Bills prepare to face the 4-3 Cincinnati Bengals at Cincinnati's Paycor Stadium Sunday night, Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin is readying himself to return to the place where he nearly lost his life in January.

"Man, I’m thankful for life," Hamlin said during a conversation with Christian Arnold of the New York Post. "Honestly, I’m thankful to wake up, brush my teeth, have a meal. Take 10 deep breaths. I’m thankful for everything. Life is bigger than just ball for me and always will be until the day that I go, but to be able to do what I do at the highest level, I’m an extra level of thankful, you know. I’m super thankful to have my normal life back. But I’m extremely thankful to be able to continue to compete at the highest level and do what I love to do." 

Hamlin famously went into cardiac arrest during a "Monday Night Football" game at Paycor Stadium on Jan. 2 and needed CPR on the field. He completed a remarkable recovery that included making Buffalo's 53-man roster in August, but he's thus far been active for only one game this season. 

Hamlin acknowledged that he doesn't know if he'll play in the prime-time contest in Cincinnati. 

"I don’t know what to expect," the 25-year-old said. "You know, this is unique to me as well. All I know is I’m walking in with courage, I’m walking in with strength and I’m walking in with my brothers. You know, and I’m walking in with my mom, my dad, my family. And I’m walking into, you know, an environment of people that supported me the entire time. They continue to support me, you know, on both ends."

Hamlin added that he and the Bills are traveling to Cincinnati "to get a win" as the 6-2 Miami Dolphins begin Week 9 atop the AFC East standings. The New York Jets are 4-3, and the New England Patriots are 2-6. 

As of Wednesday afternoon, OddsChecker listed the Bills as two-point underdogs against the Bengals. When all is said and done, Hamlin's biggest job on Sunday may be helping keep teammates focused on the task at hand during a game that could be massive for both sides as it pertains to potential playoff spots.