Darmar Hamlin Awake And Alert, Long-Term Future Uncertain

CINCINNATI, OH -While Buffalo Bills safety and Pittsburgh native Damar Hamlin remains on a ventilator and still can't speak, his doctors said Thursday he now can communicate via writing. Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during the Bills game Monday against the Cincinnati Bengals and remains in critical condition.

During a news conference Thursday at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where Hamlin is in the intensive care unit, physicians said that the first question he asked while writing on a clipboard was whether the Bills won their game.

“Our response was: ‘Damar, you won. You won the game of life,’” Dr. Timothy Pritts said.

However, Pritts indicated that Hamlin has made significant progress and his neurological condition is intact. He is responding to commands from his medical team, moving his hands and feet and holding the hands of family members.

“It’s not only that the lights are on, but we know he's home," Pritts said.

Contrary to prior reports that Hamlin had to be resuscitated twice after collapsing on the field, doctors said Hamlin received a single round of defibrillation and CPR on the field before being taken to the hospital.

According to numerous reports Thursday, the Bills-Bengals game, which was halted in the first quarter after Hamlin's medical emergency, will not be resumed. The move has significant ramifications for NFL AFC playoff seedings.