BUFFALO Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who suffered a cardiac arrest during an NFL game, remained hospitalised in critical condition yesterday while the league said the suspended contest would not resume this week.

The 24-year-old defensive back collapsed Monday night after receiving a hard hit in the chest while tackling receiver Tee Higgins during the first quarter of the Bills’ game at Cincinnati.

Medical workers restored Hamlin’s heartbeat on the field while working for 30 minutes as players from both teams wept and worried, the horrific scene watched by a national television audience and a stadium crowd stunned into silence.

Hamlin was taken from the stadium in an ambulance and the pivotal contest between playoff-bound NFL clubs, led 7-3 by Cincinnati, was halted by agreement of the NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA).

“Damar Hamlin spent last night in the intensive care unit and remains there today in critical condition at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center,” the Bills said in a statement.

“We are grateful and thankful for the outpouring of support we have received thus far.”

The NFLPA tweeted out mental health and counselling information in a message to all players in America’s most violent and most popular sport.

“Our union’s focus remains on the health of our brother, Damar Hamlin,” the NFLPA said in a statement. “We continue to be in touch with the clubs and NFL to ensure that Bills and Bengals players have every resource available to aid and support them during this time.”

The NFL announced the Bills-Bengals game would not be completed this week, with no guarantee it would be finished, and said next weekend’s final regular-season games remain as scheduled.

“After speaking with both teams and NFLPA leadership, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell informed the clubs today that the Bills-Bengals game will not be resumed this week,” an NFL statement said.

“The NFL has made no decision regarding the possible resumption of the game at a later date. The league has not made any changes to the week 18 regular-season schedule.”

That means the NFL expects the Bills (12-3) to play host to New England (8-8) on Sunday in a game with playoff qualifying and seeding implications.

NFL players and fans expressed hope for Hamlin to return to full health, including Higgins, who tweeted, “I’m praying that you pull through bro.”

Those cheering for Hamlin include US President Joe Biden.

“The president has seen the horrific news. We hope his condition and his health improves quickly,” White House spokesman Karine Jean-Pierre said.

‘I was shook up’

“I was shook up,” 39-year-old Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers said on the Pat McAfee Show. “Your football mortality comes right face to face. One of your brothers in the fraternity of the NFL is fighting for his life right now.

“Whether you are currently playing or done playing, you’re shook about this because you just never thought you would see something like this on the field.”

Seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, the 45-year-old quarterback who ended a brief retirement to play this season, tweeted: “Moments like this put into perspective what it means to play this game we love.”

A GoFundMe page that supports Hamlin’s foundation, which backs children’s charity programmes, had more than US$4 million (RM17.62 million) in contributions after a huge jump in donations following his injury.

“We want to express our sincere gratitude for the love and support shown to Damar during this challenging time,” Hamlin’s family said in a statement.

“We are deeply moved by the prayers, kind words and donations from fans around the country… Your generosity and compassion mean the world to us.”

The only similar situation on the field in an NFL game took place in 1971 when Detroit Lions receiver Chuck Hughes suffered a cardiac incident against Chicago and was pronounced dead shortly after being taken to a hospital.

Hughes collapsed while returning to a huddle after a play he wasn’t directly involved with during the final seconds of the game, which was finished. – AFP, January 4, 2023.