Watch: Bills' Damar Hamlin back on the field at OTAs

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin Jeff Romance / USA TODAY NETWORK

Watch: Bills' Damar Hamlin back on the field for individual drills at OTAs

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 5/23/23

The most encouraging image to come from Buffalo Bills OTAs on Tuesday was the sight of safety Damar Hamlin taking part in individual drills as he takes another major step in his return to playing.

Hamlin did not participate in team activities or wear a helmet, but he did do individual work with tackling sleds and covering receivers.

Have a look.

Well...despite what Sean McDermott said prior, Bills Safety Damar Hamlin was in fact out on the field practicing with the team today, participating during the individuals.

No helmet, but otherwise looking like just any other player on the roster. Amazing.@WGRZ #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/hMX0eg8I2N
— J.T. Messinger (@JTMessinger) May 23, 2023

Hamlin collapsed on the field in January during a Monday night game in Cincinnati and has been working his way back ever since.

Bills general manager Brandon Beane already said that Hamlin is fully cleared to return to football activities, but the team is clearly taking its time working him back into full participation.

Hamlin was a sixth-round pick by the Bills in 2021 and won a starting job during the 2022 season. He started 13 games, defended two passes, forced a fumble, and recorded 1.5 sacks and 91 total tackles. The most important thing for Hamlin is that he has fully recovered from the cardiac incident that made him collapse on the field, but his return to the Bills defense will be a significant lift for a secondary that struggled in the second half of the 2022 season and into the playoffs.

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