Reports: Breathing tube out, Damar Hamlin talks to Bills' teammates

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is talking to teammates after having his breathing tube removed. According to multiple reports Friday morning, Hamlin, 24, is breathing on his own for the first time since going into cardiac arrest during Monday night's game in Cincinnati. NFL Network reported Hamlin addressed the entire team Friday via FaceTime. Doctors at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center said Thursday that Hamlin had made "substantial" progress although he remained in the intensive care unit, his family by his side. Dr. Timothy Pritts and Dr. William Knight of the University of Cincinnati Medical Center addressed the media in the first statement from doctors and detailed Hamlin's recovery as well as the road ahead. "We would like to share that there has been substantial improvement in his condition over the past 24 hours," Dr. Timothy Pritts said. "We had significant concern about him after the injury and after the event on the field and he is making substantial progress. As of this morning, he is beginning to awaken and it appears that his neurological conditional and function is intact." Still, Pritts said Hamlin "continues to be critically ill" and remains in the intensive care unit. His family remains by his side. Dr. William Knight noted that Hamlin has been on a "long and difficult road. He has been fairly sick and made a remarkable improvement. He's demonstrating signs of recovery and improvement." Pritts noted that Hamlin woke up Wednesday night and asked via writing whether the Bills won the game. The game was suspended. Per Pritts, doctors responded to his question with the following: "The answer is yes. Damar, you won the game of life." The NFL announced Thursday that the Bills-Bengals game has been canceled. Buffalo (12-3) returned to practice Thursday to prepare for Sunday's regular-season finale against the visiting New England Patriots (8-8). Hamlin recorded 91 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble in 15 games (13 starts) during his second NFL season in 2022. The Bills drafted him in the sixth round out of Pitt in 2021. --Field Level Media