The Buffalo Bills will face the New England Patriots on Sunday afternoon in their first game since Bills safety Damar Hamlin collapsed and went into cardiac arrest in the middle of Monday night’s game against the Bengals in Cincinnati. .
Kickoff time is set for 1 pm EST at the Bills’ home field, Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, New York, and a strong show of support for Hamlin is expected in the regular season finale.
In a tweet Sunday morning, the Bills appeared to dedicate the game to the 24-year-old Hamlin: «Today is for 3,» the tweet read, along with a photo of Hamlin’s No. 3 jersey.
The Bills will also wear caps with a «3» on the side in honor of Hamlin’s number, and a special «3» patch on their jerseys. according to the nfl.
patriots too tweeted a photo of a #3 jersey inside his locker room emblazoned with the phrase, «Love for Damar.»
Fans can expect to see many more of those: in a statement posted on Twitter on SaturdayNFL commissioner Roger Goodell told fans that «players and coaches from all 32 teams will wear ‘Love for Damar 3’ jerseys during pregame warmups in a show of support for Damar across the board.» the league».
Other tributes expected Sunday include a pregame tribute to Hamlin and the first responders and medical personnel treating him, and the outlining of the «3» at each number on the 30-yard line on the field in the colors red or Bills blue. the nfl said.
The game comes a day after Hamlin made his first public comments since collapsing during Monday’s game, thanking fans for their support and asking them to continue to pray.
«Grateful for everyone who reached out and prayed», Hamlin he tweeted on saturday. «This will make me stronger on the road to recovery, keep praying for me!»
Hamlin collapsed Monday after having a hit in the first quarter of a game against the Bengals. Coaches surrounded Hamlin and he received CPR for several minutes as the Bills knelt in prayer on the field. According to a statement from the Bills, «his heart rate was restored on the field and he was transported to UC Medical Center for further testing and treatment,» referring to the University of Cincinnati’s Level 1 trauma center.
That game was called off and then postponed. The NFL said it will not be compensated.
In a tweet on Saturday, the bill said who, according to Hamlin’s doctors, «is making continuous progress in his recovery, but remains in critical condition.»
“He continues to breathe on his own and his neurological function is excellent,” the tweet continued.
Hamlin won’t play on Sunday or for the foreseeable future, with the Bills placing him on their injured reserve list, they said friday. The nfl said Hamlin will receive his full $825,000 for 2022 despite being on injured reserve.
Experts not involved in Hamlin’s treatment suggested that a rare phenomenon called «commotio cordis» might be to blame, noting that a healthy heart struck with blunt force at a specific time can initiate an abnormal and life-threatening rhythm.
The Bills and NFL fans have rallied with Hamlin since his injury, raising millions of dollars for a charitable donation and a toy drive he founded and arriving out of the hospital to express their support, according to NBC affiliate WLWT of Cincinnati.
phil helsell, david k li Y Erika Edwards contributed.