Monday Night Football game in Cincinnati suspended after scary injury
Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin rushed to hospital after collapsing on field, remains in critical condition
CINCINNATI, Ohio (KYMA, KECY) - Monday Night Football's game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals has officially been postponed after Buffalo's Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field.
The game was temporarily suspended after Hamlin was given CPR by immediate medical assistance, followed by being taken away to a local hospital by ambulance.
The injury occurred at 8:55 pm EST before the game was temporarily suspended at 9:18 pm EST. At 9:25 pm EST, the ambulance left the stadium.
The ESPN broadcast continued to go back-and-forth between commercial break and its broadcast for over a half hour before the game was officially postponed by the NFL just after 10 pm EST.
Shortly after the NFL provided an official statement:
"Tonight's Buffalo Bills-Cincinnati Bengals game has been postponed after Buffalo Bills' Damar Hamlin collapsed, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced. Hamlin received immediate medical attention on the field by team and independent medical staff and local paramedics. He was then transported to a local hospital where he is in critical condition. Our thoughts are with Damar and the Buffalo Bills. We will provide more information as it becomes available. The NFL has been in constant communication with the NFL Players Association which is in agreement with postponing the game."
For what was intended to be one of the biggest games of the NFL season thus far between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, it is now a night that has ended in tragedy.
The NFL community is currently searching for answers and coming together through thoughts and prayers as Damar Hamlin fights for his life.
The injury occurred late in the first quarter when Hamlin got up after a tackle on Bengals' Tee Higgins. Seconds later, Hamlin fell backwards onto the turf and laid there as medical staff rushed to him.
Hamlin is a 24-years-old. He was drafted in the 6th round of the 2021 NFL Draft by Buffalo after going to the University of Pittsburgh.