Bills honor Damar Hamlin, then score on opening kickoff

Bills honor Damar Hamlin, then score on opening kickoff

On Buffalo’s first play since Bills safety Damar Hamlin needed to be revived on the field to save his life, Nyheim Hines returned the opening kickoff from the New England Patriots 96 yards for a touchdown on Sunday.

Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after making a tackle in the first quarter of Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals. His heart stopped at Paycor Stadium, and CPR was administered before he was transported from the field to University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

The Bills and Bengals never returned to the field as the NFL postponed their game after Hamlin’s incident and later cancelled the contest.

Hamlin remains hospitalized, but on Saturday, he was able to talk to his teammates via Facetime as they prepared for Sunday’s AFC North game against the Patriots, and Hamlin was scheduled to watch the Bills’ home game with his parents from Cincinnati.

Across the NFL this weekend, players warmed up in shirts with “Love for Damar” written on them, along with Hamlin’s uniform No. 3.

Sunday’s kickoff return was the 29th of Hines’ NFL career, and the first that he had run back for a touchdown.