Bills Mafia Gave Damar Hamlin the Perfect Welcome to Training Camp

Damar Hamlin took yet another major step in his recovery from his January cardiac incident on Wednesday and no one was more thrilled to see the progress than Bills fans.

Hamlin, who has been cleared for full football activities less than eight months after suffering a cardiac arrest on the field during a game against the Bengals, ran out onto the field for training camp practice. As he did, he was met with a chorus of cheers from members of the Bills Mafia who were on hand to support their team at the beginning of its preseason program.

The touching scene was shared on Twitter by the team Wednesday.

Here comes 3. ????@HamlinIsland | #BillsCamp pic.twitter.com/Ijj0Z5QGq3

— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) July 26, 2023

Hamlin was cleared back in April and participated in OTAs in June, but has yet to return to full-contact practice. Bills coach Sean McDermott delivered the news that the 25-year-old is a “full-go” to workout on Wednesday, but that the team will take a measured approach to working him back into the fold. 

“With Damar’s situation, like I mentioned in the spring, he has our full support, and always will, and then we’ll continue to take it one day at a time, and we’ll go at his cadence,” McDermott said to reporters, per NFL Media. “At this point, he’s full-go and we’ll take it one day at a time, so I think that’s the best approach.”

Hamlin, who missed the remainder of the Bills’ season after the Week 16 incident in Cincinnati, started in 13 games for Buffalo last year and amassed 91 tackles, 1.5 sacks, two passes defended and one forced fumble.