About 11 months ago, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin experienced one of the scariest injuries we’ve seen in the NFL as he suffered cardiac arrest on the field in Cincinnati, Ohio, during a Bills-Bengals game. The medical staff quickly rushed in to save his life.
After being a healthy scratch during the first three weeks of the 2023 season, Hamlin was used on the Bills’ special-teams unit for kick returns on Oct. 1. What’s his status at this point in the season?
What’s the Latest on Damar Hamlin’s Status?
Update 12/10/2023: Hamlin is officially inactive for the Bills game against the Chiefs.
Hamlin has seen more playing time since his appearance on Oct. 1, but it was remarkable to see him take the field that day after his injury last year.
“I think it was more so about promising to myself than anything else, just showing myself that I have the courage, I have the strength, that I have the pride, everything, all those words, in me to be able to go through something traumatic and to be able to come back from it,” Hamlin said after the game. “To be able to still do what I love at the highest level in the world is amazing.”
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The Bills’ safety depth chart includes Jordan Poyer, Micah Hyde, Taylor Rapp, and Cam Lewis. Hamlin slides in as the third-team safety, so he has not been active for most games in 2023.
Recently, he has seen playing time in the Bills’ losses to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Denver Broncos, and Philadelphia Eagles due to injuries, although he has recorded just two tackles. Hamlin is still on the Bills’ active roster and will likely continue to see some playing time against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon as he has in recent weeks.
Will Hamlin Win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award?
Hamlin still remains the favorite to take home Comeback Player of the Year this season. His odds became even more expensive to win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year following Sunday’s Week 13 results, when he took the field for 23 snaps.
Hamlin’s rehab from carditis has been one of the biggest storylines across the league. The fact that Hamlin is a favorite for the award shouldn’t come as a surprise despite his lack of playing time this season.
Hamlin is the favorite on DraftKings, listed at -230. His closest competition is Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa at +280.
The odds drop greatly after that as Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson is at +1000 and Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson both sit at +2000.
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