Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

Bills' Damar Hamlin reveals what his 'personal mission' is

Damar Hamlin made another huge step in his remarkable return to NFL action on Monday.

It was an extra special day for the Buffalo Bills defensive back as some of his family members were in attendance for Monday's training camp session. Hamlin told reporters that having family with him for such a significant milestone was very important in his comeback.

It's been 210 days since the 25-year-old's on-field collapse during the Bills' Week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals and each stage of his recovery since then has been followed closely across the sports world. Hamlin was a full participant in practice for the first time since the January incident in early June.

The Pro Football Writers of America's 2023 George Halas Award winner has been working for much of the spring and summer on not only raising awareness but being active in helping people with learning CPR. Hamlin said it's part of his "personal mission."

Hamlin and the rest of Bills Mafia open up their 2023 regular season on the road, six weeks from Monday in a highly anticipated matchup against the new-look AFC East rival New York Jets. The Sept. 11 contest will be the NFL's first "Monday Night Football" game of the campaign.

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