ORCHARD PARK, NY – JANUARY 03: Buffalo Bills fans attend a candlelight prayer vigil for player Damar Hamlin at Highmark Stadium on January 3, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. Hamlin collapsed after making a tackle last night on Monday Night Football. (Photo by Timothy T Ludwig/Getty Images)
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is now awake in a Cincinnati hospital. The news comes from his agent and a teammate, who shared the information with CNN on Thursday (Jan. 5). Hamlin's agent Ron Butler told CNN that the 24-year-old is awake and has been holding hands with family in the hospital.
"Our boy is doing better, awake and showing more signs of improvement. Thank you God," Hamlin teammate, Bills cornerback Kaiir Elam, also tweeted Thursday morning.
The Bills released a separate statement Thursday saying that Hamlin has shown "remarkable improvement" in the last day and seems to be "neurologically intact."
"Per the physicians caring for Damar Hamlin at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Damar has shown remarkable improvement over the past 24 hours," the Bills tweeted. "While still critically ill, he has demonstrated that he appears to be neurologically intact. His lungs continue to heal and he is making steady progress. We are grateful for the love and support we have received."
Hamlin collapsed on the field during the first quarter of Monday night's Bills game against the Cincinnati Bengals. The game was postponed, and the NFL has yet to announce whether it will make that game up.
