Damar Hamlin. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Bills GM shares update on Damar Hamlin's return

By Michael Gallagher | Last updated Apr 18, 2023 11:43 AM ET

Just three months ago, it wasn’t known if Damar Hamlin would play football again after suffering a cardiac arrest during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2.

And now, according to Buffalo Bills general manager Brandon Beane, the 25-year-old safety has gotten the green light from his doctors to return to the team and begin training for the 2023 season.

“He’s seen three additional specialists, most recently on Friday, and they’re all in agreement…all in lockstep of what this was, and he is cleared to resume full activities just like anyone else who was coming back from an injury or whatever,” Beane told reporters. “He’s fully cleared, he’s here and he is of the mindset he’s in a great headspace to come back and make his return.”

Damar Hamlin is working out with the team today in Buffalo.

Glad to have you back, 3. pic.twitter.com/n80HheSIaG
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) April 18, 2023

It was a little over 100 days ago that Hamlin was given CPR on the field by the Bills medical staff for nearly 10 minutes before being rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

Released from the Cincinnati hospital after a week, Hamlin spent a few days at the Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute before continuing his recovery at home.

Hamlin had a breakout 2022 before his cardiac arrest in Week 17. He posted 91 tackles, six tackles for loss, four forced incompletions, two passes defensed and a forced fumble in 15 games, including 13 starts. He allowed just two touchdowns and had the second-highest forced incompletion percentage on the team, according to Pro Football Focus.

Now, he’s participating in Buffalo’s voluntary offseason workouts at the team’s facility and appears on track to compete for his starting spot in 2023.

Michael Gallagher

Michael Gallagher is a longtime sports journalist based out of Nashville with a decade of experience covering college football, mixed martial arts and prep sports plus the NFL and NHL — specifically the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators. He’s covered several notable sporting events including an AFC Championship game, a Stanley Cup Final, an NHL All-Star Game and an NHL Stadium Series. Some of his past bylines can be found at the Nashville Scene, SB Nation, The Hockey News and Fox Sports Knoxville

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