Damien Harris, a running back for the Buffalo Bills, was forced to leave the field in an ambulance after taking a severe blow to the neck on Sunday night. It was a horrifying scene that brought to mind Damar Hamlin’s collapse ten months prior.
Bobby Okereke of the New York Giants tackled Harris late in the second quarter of the “Sunday Night Football” game in Orchard Park as he rushed up the middle on a third-and-inches play.
As worried teammates and opponents gathered around the unconscious Harris in the wake of the tackle, Harris was still conscious and could move his arms and head but was unable to stand.
As emergency staff ran onto the field, strapped the injured athlete to a stretcher, and loaded him into an ambulance, silence descended around Highmark Stadium. After the five-minute interruption to tend to Harris, the game was resumed.
The Bills subsequently declared that Harris would not return to the game due to a neck injury.
Relieved Harris was “heading in a good direction” & had regained “full movement” of his extremities, according to Bills coach Sean McDermott, who made these comments following the game.
After his team’s thrilling 14-9 victory over the New York Giants, McDermott informed reporters, “It’s my understanding he has full movement.” It’s fortunate that, based on the things we’re hearing, he’s moving in the right direction. I am grateful to God for it, therefore.
After playing for Alabama, the backup running back, now 26 years old, is in his sixth season in the NFL. After playing for the New England Patriots for the previous four seasons, this is his first season in Buffalo.
In 2021, he had his greatest season, rushing for 929 yards and 15 touchdowns.
In memory of Hamlin, a teammate of Harris’s who came dangerously close to passing away on the field during a Jan. 3 game in Cincinnati the year before, the ambulance that transported Harris off the field on Sunday is marked with the number “3” on each of its back doors.
Following a normal tackle early on in that game, Hamlin suffered a heart arrest. His heartbeat was revived with CPR by medical staff, and the game was abandoned before he was taken to the hospital.
He has subsequently joined the team, however his playing time this year has been limited.