Bobby Wagner has recalled an incident from 2015 that was similar to the situation involving Damar Hamlin.
While the football watched in shock as Hamlin received treatment after suffering cardiac arrest on the pitch during a fixture being played out by the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, it spelled a bit of deja vu for the Rams linebacker.
“Obviously, praying for him and wanting him to be healthy and be safe and be good,” Wagner told reporters on Wednesday (H/T Heavy). “Like the rest of the world, kind of just waiting and seeing all the news that could come out.”
“I was unfortunately part of something like this with Ricardo Lockette,” he added.
Wagner was with the Seattle Seahawks at the time and, during a game against the Dallas Cowboys on November 1, 2015, Dallas safety Jeff Heath drove his shoulder into Lockette’s helmet while the latter was running downfield on a punt coverage.
The wideout stayed motionless on the ground after the hit and later admitted he nearly died. Ligaments in his neck were surgically repaired, however, it marked the end of his career.
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Heath said he “felt terrible” after the collision.
“Wasn’t as extreme [the Lockette hit], but if the Seahawks didn’t do everything that they did, one wrong move, one wrong thing (and) Ricardo wouldn’t be even here today,” Wagner said.
The contact between Tee Higgins and Hamlin was different. The Bills safety took a hit to the chest which is believed to have stopped his heart. He might have succumbed to the hit right there and then had it not been for the fact that he was quickly administered CPR.
