Damar Hamlin updates: Bills safety talking with teammates after removal of breathing tube

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is in critical condition after collapsing on the field during a terrifying scene in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday night. Hamlin received CPR on the field and was taken by ambulance to University of Cincinnati Medical Center. The Bengals-Bills game was postponed with no immediate plans on when or if the game will conclude.

In a press conference held by the University of Cincinnati hospital, Dr. Timothy Pritts said that Hamlin has made substantial improvement and has neurological condition and function is intact. Truly a very positive turning point in his recovery.

Pritts also said that Hamlin was able to wake up, follow directions and ask via written word who won the Bills-Bengals game, to which the doctors responded, “You. You won the game of life.”

Doctors won’t comment on Hamlin’s long term recovery prospects, but would like to continue to see Hamlin breathing on his own as the next big milestone, before getting him home. Hamlin is still intubated and needing assistance to breathe, but is moving his hands and feet, holding people’s hands and remains neurologically intact. The ventilator is used as an aid, but doctors would like to see a gradual decrease in how much assistance the ventilator gives, and Hamlin makes up the difference with his breathing.

Doctors said Hamlin lost a pulse while being attended to on the field, and received one round of CPR and defibrillation within minutes. His heartbeat was restored on the field before being moved to the hospital. The best case outcome is getting Hamlin back to where he was before kickoff on Monday night.

Doctors said that it’s entirely too early to be discussing the prospects of Hamlin returning to the football field.

One of the doctors said that the cause of Hamlin’s cardiac arrest is still under investigation, but commotio cordis is on the “list of considerations” for the cause.

The Bills released a positive update on Demar Hamlin on Thursday morning, saying he’s made ‘remarkable improvements.’ Hamlin is reportedly grabbing the hands of people near him, and continues to make steady progress after his medical emergency.

On Wednesday, ESPN’s Coley Harvey sat down with Hamlin’s family, as well as family friend Jordon Rooney. Harvey shared some of that exchange on Twitter before the interview aired, and of note is the news that overnight doctor’s received some promising test results:

The Bills provided an update on Tuesday regarding Hamlin’s condition. According to the team, Hamlin spent Monday night in the intensive care unit, and remains in critical condition.

Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and had his heartbeat restored on the field, the Bills announced.

The harrowing sequence played out after Hamlin tackled Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. Hamlin sprung to his feet, and then collapsed falling backwards. Hamlin was administered CPR on the field for several minutes. He was then placed on a stretcher, given oxygen, and taken away by ambulance. Players from both teams were visibly distraught on the field.

The teams were reportedly told the game would resume following the injury, but players and coaches from both sides appeared to make the decision that the game would not continue. NFL executive Troy Vincent said no plans to resume the game were ever made.

There was still no official update on Hamlin’s condition in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. We’ll keep track of updates on Hamlin’s health in this post.

“Please continue to pray for Damar and his family,” Hamlin’s registered NFL agent, Ira Turner of Agency 1 Sports Group, said in a statement to NFL Network. ”We currently have no update at this time. Will ask that you keep the family in your prayers.”