In his first comments since Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and collapsed, Tee Higgins said he’s “in a good place right now” after hearing from Damar Hamlin’s mother about his improvement.
The Bengals WR has faced dumb criticism from some people who have blamed him for the injury to Hamlin that sent him into cardiac arrest. Hamlin tackled Higgins after a reception and got up for a couple of seconds before collapsing on the field. It was a simple football play that ended badly.
Doctors have since stated Hamlin has made “remarkable improvement” in the last 24 hours.
“Obviously it’s been hard, just because you know I had something to do with the play (and) whatnot,” Higgins said in his first public comments since Hamlin collapsed and the game was suspended. But “everyone has been making me feel whole again. I talked to his mom and everything is OK, he’s doing good, so I’m in a good place right now.”
Higgins said Hamlin’s mother told him “she’s thinking of me and praying for me and things like that.
“And suddenly she’s telling me that he’s OK. And just all the positive stuff,” the third-year wideout said. “I mean it feels good just knowing that he’s OK, he’s doing better, and it makes me feel better inside.”
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Higgins added that it took him quite a minute to realize something was seriously wrong. Replays showed Hamlin stand up after tackling Higgins and a few seconds later fall straight backward.
“Me being a football player, I’m thinking he just flopped, one of my guys bumped him,” Higgins said. “I just seen the fall. I looked again, and I seen what happened, and I just turned my head and trying not to think about it. So I knew it was something crazy and something tragic.”
Medical personnel got Hamlin’s heart started again with CPR and defibrillation. An ambulanmce would eventually transport him to University of Cincinnati Medical Center.
One of Hamlin’s doctors, Dr. Timothy Pritts of UC Health, said Thursday that Hamlin is “making substantial progress. As of this morning, he is beginning to awaken.”
While the Bengals prepared for their next game, the Bills are feeling good as they get set to play their final game of the regular season as well.
