Buffalo Bills player who collapsed still in critical condition

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin remains in critical condition after collapsing during a game Monday night against the Cincinnati Bengals. He suffered a cardiac arrest on the field. The 24-year-old collapsed after a tackle in the first quarter, and NFL officials delayed the game indefinitely. Before play stopped, the Bengals were leading 7-3.

Was there anything unusual about the play? The injury occurred after Hamlin tackled Bengals receiver Tee Higgins near midfield. Higgins led with his right shoulder and hit Hamlin’s chest, ESPN reported. Hamlin got up after the tackle quickly and stayed on his feet for about three seconds before collapsing. Trainers and medical personnel brought a stretcher to the field and gave him oxygen. An ambulance arrived on the field within four minutes, but he was treated on the field for nearly 20 minutes. 

Dig deeper: Listen to Paul Butler’s report on The World and Everything in It podcast about what football means to those involved.