\n<\/p>\n
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) \u2014 Remarkable as Damar Hamlin\u2019s recovery has been, the Buffalo Bills safety still faces a lengthy rehabilitation some three weeks after going into cardiac arrest and needing to be resuscitated on the field during a game in Cincinnati, his marketing representative told The Associated Press on Thursday night.<\/p>\n
\u201cDamar still requires oxygen and is having his heart monitored regularly to ensure there are no setbacks or after effects,\u201d Jordon Rooney said. \u201cThough he is able to visit the team\u2019s facility, Damar is not in position to travel often, and requires additional rest to help his body heal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rooney provided the update to emphasize Hamlin still faces hurdles since being discharged from\u00a0Buffalo General Medical Center on Jan. 11<\/a>. Hamlin\u2019s release came five days after his doctors said the player was breathing on his own, walking, talking and showing no signs of neurological damage.<\/p>\n Rooney\u2019s update also gave perspective to comments made by Bills coach Sean McDermott, who on Wednesday said Hamlin has begun making regular visits to the team\u2019s facility. McDermott, however, stressed the 24-year-old was taking \u201ca baby step at a time,\u201d while adding, Hamlin is \u201cdipping his toe back in here and getting on the road to just getting back to himself.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamlin has not yet made a public appearance except for a photograph linebacker Matt Milano posted on his Instagram account of his teammate at the Bills facility on Saturday. And he\u2019s not yet spoken publicly except for posting messages on his social media accounts.<\/p>\n Rooney said Hamlin is being watched over by his parents and \u201cremains very upbeat and grateful for the support he\u2019s received from his teammates and coaches, Bills Mafia and people from around the world.\u201d That outpouring of support has led to Hamlin\u2019s charitable foundation, Chasing M\u2019s, raising nearly\u00a0$9 million in donations<\/a>.<\/p>\n Without saying from where, he added, Hamlin will be cheering for the Bills on Sunday, when\u00a0Buffalo hosts Cincinnati in an AFC divisional playoff<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hamlin live-tweeted while watching Buffalo\u2019s\u00a035-23 season-ending win over New England<\/a>\u00a0from his hospital bed at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center on Jan. 8. Last weekend, he live-tweeted while watching from home the Bills\u2019 34-31 win over Miami in a wild-card playoff.<\/p>\n The game against\u00a0Cincinnati carries additional significance<\/a>. It marks the first meeting between the two teams since their game was canceled on Jan. 2, when Hamlin collapsed after being struck squarely in the chest while making what appeared to be a routine tackle of Bengals receiver Tee Higgins.<\/p>\n Hamlin\u2019s family and Bills quarterback Josh Allen have defended Higgins in saying he shouldn\u2019t be blamed for what happened.<\/p>\n On Thursday, Higgins said he couldn\u2019t be more appreciative of the family\u2019s support, while expressing hope Hamlin could attend the game so the two could meet.<\/p>\n \u201cJust be happy to see him,\u201d Higgins said. \u201cI haven\u2019t really spoken to him. Just letting his family do what he needs to do with all his loved ones.\u201d<\/p>\n Also on Thursday,\u00a0New York Gov. Kathy Hochul extended her support to Hamlin<\/a>\u00a0during a phone call with the player. In a message posted on her Twitter account, Hochul referred to Hamlin as \u201can inspiration,\u201d and let him know \u201cthe hopes and prayers of 20 million New Yorkers have been with him throughout his recovery.\u201d<\/p>\n Hamlin, who is from the Pittsburgh area, replied by writing it was good meeting Hochul and he was \u201cexcited to see how our collaborations in the future will help and affect so many.\u201d<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n AP Sports Writer Mitch Stacy in Cincinnati contributed to this report.<\/p>\n ___<\/p>\n AP NFL: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/nfl<\/a> and https:\/\/twitter.com\/AP_NFL<\/a><\/p>\n Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n