Tonight’s Bills-Bengals Monday Night Football game has been suspended after Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field. Emergency medical crews responded, Hamlin received CPR, and he was ultimately taken from the stadium in an ambulance. I’m sorry that I’m not writing very eloquently, but it’s been jarring to see. The reactions of the players underscored how scary this is.
This is the play that it happened, with Hamlin seemingly making a relatively standard tackle, rising, and then falling down. It’s hard to watch.
I have no idea what is going to happen with the game, which matters for AFC playoff seeding purposes, but about which nobody can care right now. The players cannot be asked to continue tonight. It all just seems so unimportant.
Everyone, everywhere is thinking the same thing: we just hope Damar is going to be OK.
UPDATE: This is obviously a mix of news, and remains deeply scary:
UPDATE 2: It seems whoever is in charge initially tried to restart the game with just five minutes notice, and the coaches declined:
UPDATE 3: Hamlin is at the hospital receiving care, but the situation remains so worrisome:
UPDATE 4: The game has officially been suspended. I don’t know why it took nearly an hour to make this decision, but it is clearly the right decision. Prayers right now for Damar Hamlin.
UPDATE 5: The Bills announced that Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on the field. He is sedated at the hospital and remains in critical condition: