Damar Hamlin released from hospital, returned to Buffalo, doctors say

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin was released from the hospital at UC Health and returned to Buffalo, according to Dr. William Knight.

“UC Health press conference on Damar Hamlin,” NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo wrote on Twitter in a thread. “Dr. William Knight says Damar Hamlin has been released from the hospital and has returned to Buffalo … Dr. Knight on Damar Hamlin: ‘He is doing well and this is the beginning of the next stage of his recovery.’

“They will continue to monitor him to see the effect of the flight on him but all looks good so far. Dr. Knight says Hamlin has been transferred to another hospital in Buffalo. Defers questions about the next steps of his rehab to that facility.”

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport also had an update on what’s next for Hamlin.

“Damar Hamlin will now head to another hospital and will continue to undergo tests and be monitored,” Rapoport wrote on Twitter. “But a very significant step today — one week from a very scary scene.”

Hamlin released a message after the news broke.

“Headed home to Buffalo today with a lot of love on my heart (heart hands emoji),” Hamlin wrote. Watching the world come together around me on Sunday was truly an amazing feeling. The same love you all have shown me is the same love that I plan to put back into the world n more. Bigger than football! (Heart hands emoji).”

Hamlin also put out a message Saturday via his Instagram when he was finally able to breathe on his own.

“When you put real love out into the world it comes back to you 3x’s as much,” Hamlin wrote, along with three heart-hands emojis. “The Love has been overwhelming, but I’m thankful for every single person that prayed for me and reached out. We brung the world back together behind this. If you know me you know this only gone make me stronger. On a long road keep praying for me!”

The NFL initially suspended the Bengals vs. Bills game, but ultimately said it wouldn’t resume play. That led to multiple playoff scenarios since the teams will play one less game, and owners approved a plan that would call for the AFC Championship game to be played at a neutral site if either team makes it to that round.