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January 5, 2023 The latest updates on NFL star Damar Hamlin's condition

By Aditi Sangal, Adrienne Vogt, Leinz Vales and Matt Meyer, CNN

Updated 9:26 a.m. ET, January 6, 2023
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3:24 p.m. ET, January 5, 2023

"His neurological condition and function is intact." Damar Hamlin is making substantial progress, doctor says

The University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin lies in critical condition, is seen January 3 in Cincinnati.
The University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin lies in critical condition, is seen January 3 in Cincinnati. (Megan Jelinger/Reuters)

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has been making "substantial progress" and there has been improvement in his condition, said Dr. Timothy Pritts, division chief of general surgery at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

"There's been substantial improvement in his condition over the past 24 hours," Pritts said. "We had significant concern about him after the injury and after the event that happened on the field, but he's making substantial progress."
"As of this morning, he is beginning to awaken, and it appears that his neurological condition and function is intact," he added.

“He continues to be critically ill and continues to undergo intensive care in our surgical and trauma ICU,” Pritts added.

Hamlin's road to recovery has been "long and difficult," said Dr. William Knight, a lead physician and professor of emergency medicine.

"He has been very sick and has made a fairly remarkable recovery and improvement," he said. "He is now demonstrating that sign of good neurologic recovery as well as overall clinical improvement as has been previously reported related to not just his vital signs but a lot of his other individual organ recovery."

1:37 p.m. ET, January 5, 2023

Buffalo Bills will hold first news conference since Hamlin collapse, source tells CNN

From CNN's Coy Wire

The Buffalo Bills will hold its first news conference since safety Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest on Monday night, according to a source. The news conference is expected to start at about 4:30 p.m. ET.

Head coach Sean McDermott and select players are expected to speak at Highmark Stadium in Orchard, Park, New York.

The Bills will practice on Thursday ahead of the media availability.

1:48 p.m. ET, January 5, 2023

Biden says he spoke with Damar Hamlin's family

President Joe Biden reacted to an update on Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin's health Thursday, referencing a conversation he had with the safety's parents.

"Great news," Biden said, retweeting a statement from the Bills from his official Twitter account. The president said he spoke with Hamlin's parents Wednesday.

View the tweet below:

1:01 p.m. ET, January 5, 2023

The NFL has not yet made a decision on Bills-Bengals game, spokesperson tells CNN

From CNN's Jacob Lev

Paycor Stadium, home of the Cincinnati Bengals, is lit with Buffalo Bills colors in support of Damar Hamlin on January 3 in downtown Cincinnati.
Paycor Stadium, home of the Cincinnati Bengals, is lit with Buffalo Bills colors in support of Damar Hamlin on January 3 in downtown Cincinnati. (Kareem Elgazzar/The Cincinnati Enquirer/AP)

The NFL has not made a decision on whether to resume the Buffalo Bills game against the Cincinnati Bengals that was postponed Monday after Damar Hamlin's collapse, NFL spokesperson Brian McCarthy told CNN Thursday. 

The NFL said it is continuing to explore a number of options. 

The game's official outcome could have implications for the league's playoffs, set to begin after this weekend's contests on Saturday and Sunday.

12:36 p.m. ET, January 5, 2023

Patriots coordinator says players have come to him to express their feelings after Hamlin's collapse

From CNN's David Close

 

New England Patriots special teams coordinator Cam Achord said players have come to him to express their feelings following the Bills’ Damar Hamlin’s on-field collapse.

“A few guys have definitely come by," Achord said when asked on Thursday if some players were having trouble processing what happened on Monday night. "We've talked about the situation and talked about life in general and kind of just got to know each other a little bit better as people.”

Achord, who has been with the team for five seasons, said Hamlin’s situation has brought the Patriots closer together.

“Getting to know everybody as people and their background and as people that really goes a long way. So, I talked about just life in general a little bit this this week, which has been really good in the aspect of getting to know the guys at the heart of their core,” he said.

The Patriots play the Bills in Buffalo on Sunday. 

12:25 p.m. ET, January 5, 2023

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick says he is heartened by latest news on Damar Hamlin

From CNN's Jill Martin

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches the second half of the Patriots' game against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 24 in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick watches the second half of the Patriots' game against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 24 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Winslow Townson/Getty Images)

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick spoke with reporters shortly after the Buffalo Bills released an update on Damar Hamlin’s condition Thursday.

“The news from a little earlier this morning about Damar’s progress is great news and encouraging for all of us,” Belichick said.

The coach said he doesn’t typically watch Monday Night Football, except to maybe randomly flip through it. But because the Patriots’ next opponent was Buffalo, he said he had the game on at the time Hamlin collapsed.

Belichick said he addressed the situation with his team Tuesday.

“Really all I can say – really all I’m going to say – is I think everybody’s doing the best they can,” Belichick said. “That could be on a lot of different levels and a lot of different perspectives. But we’re all doing the best that we can.”

The latest on Hamlin's status: The 24-year-old player is still critically ill but has "shown remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours," the Bills said in an update shortly before Belichick's remarks Thursday.

His agent told CNN that Hamlin is awake and holding hands with his family in the hospital.

11:43 a.m. ET, January 5, 2023

NFL players react to news that Damar Hamlin is awake

From CNN’s David Williams

After Buffalo Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam tweeted that Damar Hamlin is awake and improving, many in the National Football League reacted with elation.

Buffalo Bills

Rashad Weaver, Tennessee Titans and college teammate of Hamlin

 Jonnu Smith, New England Patriots

Kadarius Toney, Kansas City Chiefs 

 Reggie Ragland, Cleveland Browns

Los Angeles Rams Linebacker Ernest Jones

12:14 p.m. ET, January 5, 2023

Bills teammate says Hamlin is "awake and showing more signs of improvement"

From CNN's Jill Martin

Shortly before the Buffalo Bills posted an update on Damar Hamlin, Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam tweeted that his teammate was awake and improving.

“Our boy is doing better, awake and showing more signs of improvement. Thank you God. Keep the prayers coming please. All love 3!”

11:26 a.m. ET, January 5, 2023

Hamlin’s agent tells CNN the Bills player is awake and has been holding hands with family

From CNN's David Close

Damar Hamlin celebrates after a tackle during a game against the Minnesota Vikings on November 13 in Orchard Park, New York.
Damar Hamlin celebrates after a tackle during a game against the Minnesota Vikings on November 13 in Orchard Park, New York. (Isaiah Vazquez/Getty Images)

Damar Hamlin’s agent Ron Butler told CNN the injured Buffalo Bills player is awake and has been holding hands with family in the hospital.

The Buffalo Bills earlier said that Hamlin has "shown remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours" and "has demonstrated that he appears to be neurologically intact."

Correction: An earlier version of this post misspelled the first name of the agent.