Tag: Damar Hamlin

Bills’ Damar Hamlin won’t play vs. Bengals on SNF

An update on Damar Hamlin before Bills vs. Bengals.

The Cincinnati Bengals won’t see Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 9.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Hamlin won’t play due to standard football reasons: “This is not unusual nor unexpected, as Hamlin has played only one game so far this season, vs. Miami, when Buffalo safety Jordan Poyer was injured. With Hamlin, it’s currently a numbers game; he currently backs up Buffalo’s top four safeties – Poyer, Micah Hyde, Taylor Rapp and Cam Lewis.”

The moment Sunday night will be emotional for all regardless of Hamlin’s playing status though given the events during last year’s regular season game that was called off.

Hamlin, who calls Cincinnati his “third home,” has a close bond with many Bengals players, including Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins.

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Bills’ Damar Hamlin expects warm welcome back to Cincinnati

Damar Hamlin on returning to Cincy win chat with Von Miller:

When the Buffalo Bills take on the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, many know it’s going to be the first time Damar Hamlin returns to Paycor Stadium.

Hamlin has been inactive most of the 2023 season, but it will still be an emotion scene. It’s the site of where he suffered cardiac arrest in 2022 and captured the world’s attention.

Upon being back at Paycor Stadium, the 25-year-old said he thinks it’s going to be a welcoming sight. He remembers how Cincinnati came to his side to help him in his moment of need.

“I think it’s going to be all love, I think it’s going to be all energy, all support,” Hamlin said.

Hamlin discussed the upcoming game on Von Miller’s Bleacher Report podcast, the Von Cast. The clip of Hamlin speaking with Miller can be found below:

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Jaguars WRs Zay Jones, Jamal Agnew active vs. Bills

The Jaguars have their wide receiving corps back to healthy for a Week 5 game against the Bills.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will officially have wide receivers Zay Jones and Jamal Agnew back in the lineup Sunday.

Jones, who missed two games, and Agnew, who was out last week, were both absent from the Jaguars’ short list of inactive players:

Also missing from the list is rookie defensive back Antonio Johnson, who has been dealing with a hamstring injury since August. The fifth-round pick is set to make his NFL debut and will likely be a contributor on special teams.

The Jaguars opened the possibility that Dawuane Smoot would make his 2023 debut earlier this week when the team opened his 21-day window to return from the PUP list. But Smoot was never activated ahead of Sunday, so he’s still not a current member of the 53-man roster and doesn’t need to be listed as inactive.

Buffalo similarly opened Von Miller’s 21-day window earlier this week, but unlike the Jaguars, the Bills officially activated Miller on Saturday. With the veteran pass rusher not listed among the team’s inactives, he’s set to play against the Jaguars on Sunday.

Hamlin, who has made an inspiring return to football after suffering cardiac arrest on the field last season, has been active for just one game so far this year. Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam, a 2022 first-round pick, is set to make his season debut after being a healthy scratch in the first four weeks.

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Report: Bills’ Damar Hamlin to make season debut vs. Dolphins

Damar will be back:

Damar Hamlin’s comeback will finally hit full circle in Week 4.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Hamlin is going to play for the first time this season on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins (3-0). That update comes after Buffalo Bills head coach Sean McDermott announced that starting safety Jordan Poyer will not suit up due to a knee injury.

It’s expected that Taylor Rapp will get the start at safety with Poyer out.

Hamlin will likely play a depth role but could also see time during certain packages and on special teams. Rapp has played in 51 percent of Buffalo’s special teams snaps this year and it’s unclear if Rapp or Hamlin will take those against the Dolphins.

Hamlin suiting up will mark the first time he plays in a regular season game after his episode with cardiac arrest in December 2022.

Hamlin, 25, had played throughout the preseason for the Bills (2-1) this summer. However, he has been inactive the first three games of the season.

During Buffalo’s exhibition season, Hamlin tallied 73 defensive snaps and 19 special teams plays.

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Stephen A. Smith, Micah Parsons ripped Bart Scott for tasteless comment about Trevon Diggs

This is a bad look for Bart Scott.

NFL player turned broadcaster Bart Scott is in hot water after making an incredibly tasteless comment about Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs, who tore his ACL in practice Thursday and is now out for the season.

And ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and Cowboys All-Pro linebacker Micah Parsons immediately condemned his words.

Injuries are part of sports and often cause reverberations throughout an organization. Truthfully, they’re awful for everyone involved, including the impacted player.

Sadly, the ripple effect they have must be discussed, however, it’s always best to do that with care. You can be honest without being insensitive.

Yet, Bart Scott didn’t get that memo. In speaking about Trevon Diggs’s season-ending injury, Scott delivered some blistering remarks that caused everyone in the room to react.

For reasons only known to Scott, he improperly used a popular phrase by Smith: “Just wait. Something bad always happens.”

“No, don’t start that, don’t start that,” Ryan Clark quickly responded.

Smith echoed Clark’s sentiment and quickly followed up by saying, “I wouldn’t do that right now, in all seriousness.” He made it clear that this was not a joke.

Words travel fast, and his comments started trending on social media, catching the eye of Parsons. Parsons often speaks his mind, and today was no different.

He immediately defended Diggs and clapped back at Scott. Parsons was rightfully unhappy, saying he shouldn’t be joking about a man trying to feed his family and build a legacy.

Also, this isn’t the first time Parsons has called out Scott for his comments. They had a dispute in January over Scott’s thoughts on Damar Hamlin’s injury that involved Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.

To be unequivocally clear, this is a bad look. Period. It shouldn’t have been said. Diggs is a human being with emotions and feelings.

Be better, Bart. Be better.

Update: Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs also criticized Scott’s comments.

Update again: Scott tagged Parsons in his response, and Parsons wasn’t entertaining it.

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Report: Damar Hamlin inactive for Bills vs. Jets

Report: Damar Hamlin inactive for #Bills vs. #Jets:

There will reportedly be no Damar Hamlin in the Buffalo Bills’ opening day lineup against the New York Jets.

According to reports including NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Hamlin is expected to be included on the inactive list which is released 90 minute prior to kickoff. Hamlin will not play in New York.

The report goes on to indicate that defensive back Cam Lewis will be active over Hamlin because of his versatility to play both cornerback and safety. On the team’s depth chart, Hamlin is listed ahead of Lewis at safety.

The contest was set to be Hamlin’s first regular season game since he suffered cardiac arrest on the field against the Cincinnati Bengals during the 2022 season.

Bills Wire will provide the full inactive list when the information is made available ahead of kickoff against the Jets.

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Bills’ Sean McDermott on Damar Hamlin: ‘What a story’

#Bills head coach Sean McDermott spoke about his expectations for safety Damar Hamlin to Good Morning Football on Wednesday (via @SharifKeaton):

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has been through a comeback of a lifetime before getting to where he is right now. It has been a long road back for Hamlin after he suffered cardiac arrest during a Week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals last season.

Hamlin, 25, has defied the odds to make Buffalo’s initial 53-man roster and now, he plans on continuing the comeback by helping the Bills win games in any way possible. Hamlin, Buffalo’s sixth-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, is currently listed as a backup safety to Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde so he could see some snaps whenever either of those guys need rest.

One person that has been there for Hamlin since the beginning is Bills head coach Sean McDermott. McDermott appeared on Good Morning Football on Wednesday and he spoke on Hamlin’s journey to making the roster despite all of the obstacles in his way:

“Yeah, how awesome is that? What a story. We can’t wait to see him play this year and watch how he’s going to help our football team win games.”

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WATCH: Buffalo Bills safety room describe each other

WATCH: #Bills safety room describe each other:

The Bills safety room sat down with the team’s video department and went through an interesting exercise which allowed fans to get to know the players a bit more. In it, each person does not answer questions about themselves, rather, the others around the room.

Featured in the clip is Micah Hyde, Jordan Poyer, Damar Hamlin and more. See the attached YouTube clip for the feature.

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Damar Hamlin, Kenny Pickett exchange jerseys after Bills vs. Steelers

Damar Hamlin, Kenny Pickett exchange jerseys after #Bills vs. #Steelers:

Damar Hamlin’s story with the Bills is well-known by now. He’s come leaps and bounds since his scary episode with cardiac arrest.

A draft pick of the Bills, the only other team Hamlin has ties to outside of western New York is just down the road with the Steelers. A Pittsburgh native, Hamlin has close relationships with the likes of Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, quarterback Kenny Pickett, among others.

Speaking of the latter, Pickett and Hamlin shared a nice moment following the 27-15 preseason win for the Steelers.

A jersey exchange went down at midfield. Hamlin should probably get used to these in 2023.

The Hamlin-Pickett exchange can be found in the clip below:

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Rich Eisen ‘can’t believe’ Damar Hamlin’s game vs. Colts

Rich Eisen Show ‘can’t believe’ #Bills safety Damar Hamlin’s game vs. #Colts:

Rich Eisen made sure to acknowledge Damar Hamlin’s return to the Bills against the Colts in a special manner this week.

On his show, Eisen named his top five moments of the first week of the preseason, and he wanted to take a segment to discuss Hamlin specifically. He said it felt needed because it’s his belief that many are overlooking Hamlin’s amazing road to recovery following his on-field cardiac arrest in January.

Check out the segment from “The Rich Eisen Show” below:

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