The Los Angeles Rams endured a loss in Week 17 to the Los Angeles Chargers, but that was well past the team’s conscience after the events on Monday Night Football featuring the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills.
In a crucial game to help determine playoff seeding in the AFC, Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field following a tackle on Tee Higgins in the first quarter. Hamlin looked to initially be fine after getting up, but almost immediately fell down backward.
Medical personnel came to his aid on the field where he was administered CPR. After several minutes, he was loaded into an ambulance and transported to a nearby hospital where he was eventually listed in critical condition.
The moment shook everyone in the NFL world, including Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield who expressed his feelings via his personal Twitter account:
Unbelievably sad…. Heart is extremely heavy right now. Prayers for @HamlinIsland his health and the Hamlin Family now. Life is too important. Cherish every moment.
— Baker Mayfield (@bakermayfield) January 3, 2023
The Rams team account followed suit, offering their thoughts and prayers to Hamlin and the Bills organization:
Sending our thoughts and prayers to @HamlinIsland and the @BuffaloBills. 🙏 https://t.co/aeRGFO22Mf
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) January 3, 2023
Everyone on the field and in the stadium were in visible shock after what transpired, a truly devastating sight to see a player be given so much medical attention and not be entirely sure if he was going to be alright. Both teams were originally given a five-minute warm-up period to resume the game, but head coaches Sean McDermott and Zac Taylor wisely took their respective teams back to the locker room as they awaited updates on Hamlin.
After an extended period of time, the NFL finally announced that the game would be suspended and made up at a later date. It was the correct and only decision the league could make as there was no way either team could continue after witnessing what just happened.
As of now, there haven’t been any updates on Hamlin’s condition but the NFL and his family did release a joint statement thanking everyone who wished the safety well and that they would provide any updates as soon as they received them.
Hamlin’s life and well-being take precedence over any sort of game that could be played right now, and everyone in the NFL is hoping for nothing but the best for him.
