Bills designate Damar Hamlin as starting player for Week 1
Sean McDermott, the coach of the Buffalo Bills, announced on Wednesday that Damar Hamlin will be the starting safety for their season opener against the Arizona Cardinals. McDermott described Hamlin's journey as "incredible."
The other starting safety position will be filled by Taylor Rapp.
During the 2022 season, Hamlin started in 13 out of the 15 games he played. However, on January 2, 2023, during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, he suffered a cardiac arrest on the field.
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McDermott stated, "It's one thing to recover from an ACL or a broken bone, but it's another thing to come back from what he went through. It's truly incredible that he not only decided to continue playing football, but at the NFL level. I don't think I need to say anything more."
He continued, "I believe that God has been watching over Damar and his family, and will continue to do so. We are extremely proud and grateful to witness his journey and where he is now."
Hamlin, who is 26 years old, only played in five games last season and did not start in any of them. He had limited playing time, with only 17 snaps on defense and 94 on special teams. However, he has been slowly brought back and has shown consistency and improvement this year. McDermott stated that Hamlin earned the starting position through his consistency and taking advantage of opportunities.
McDermott also mentioned the importance of building a rapport with Rapp, who will be playing alongside Hamlin at safety.
Hamlin played college football at Pitt and was drafted by the Bills in the sixth round of the 2021 draft.
In his NFL career, he has played in 34 games, starting in 13 of them. He has recorded 95 tackles, 1.5 sacks, four passes defensed, and a forced fumble.
