A horrifying image reminiscent of Damar Hamlin’s fall 10 months earlier occurred when Buffalo Bills running back Damien Harris was removed from the field in an ambulance after suffering a neck injury from a brutal hit on Sunday night.
Bobby Okereke of the New York Giants tackled Harris late in the second quarter of the “Sunday Night Football” game in Orchard Park, New York. Harris was running up the middle on a third-and-inches play.
Harris was aware after the tackle and could move his arms and head, but he was unable to stand as worried teammates and opponents gathered around him.
As emergency staff ran onto the field, strapped Harris to a stretcher, and carried him into an ambulance, silence descended across Highmark Stadium. After a five-minute break, the game was resumed.
Harris suffered a neck injury and was ruled out for the remainder of the game, according to the Bills.
Relieved Harris was “heading in a good direction” and had regained “full movement” of his extremities, according to Bills coach Sean McDermott after the game.
“It’s my understanding he has full movement,” McDermott told reporters after his team’s dramatic 14-9 victory over the Giants. “Fortunate that he is seemingly heading in a good direction, with the reports we are getting. So I am very thankful to God for that.”
After playing for Alabama, Harris, a reserve running back, is in his sixth season in the NFL. After playing for the New England Patriots for the previous four seasons, this is his first season in Buffalo.
In 2021, he had his greatest season, rushing for 929 yards and 15 touchdowns.
In memory of Hamlin, Harris’ teammate who came dangerously close to passing away on the field during a Jan. 3 game in Cincinnati the year before, the ambulance that carried Harris off the field on Sunday has a “3” painted on each of its back doors.
Following a normal tackle early on in that game, Hamlin suffered a heart arrest. His heartbeat was revived with CPR by medical staff, and the game was abandoned before he was taken to the hospital.
Despite having re-joined the team, he has only sometimes played this year.
