Monday Night Football game postponed after Bills player collapses on field and undergoes CPR; Damar Hamlin in “critical condition” in hospital – update

UPDATED with more details: Monday night football came to a screeching halt tonight when Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field after a tackle against the Cincinnati Bengals.

The moment happened with less than 6 minutes left in the first quarter. Hamlin tackled wide receiver Tee Higgins and was able to get up, but collapsed seconds later.

First responders rushed to the field to help the 24-year-old player and performed CPR for several minutes. He was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

“We have never experienced anything like this. I’ve never seen it, I’ve never been there, I’ve never heard of it. … All you can do now is pray for this gentleman. … It’s somebody’s son, somebody’s brother, somebody’s father — they want to know what’s going on,” ESPN studio analyst Booger McFarland said.

Adam Schefter added: “Chill to see it. And in the times we live in, that’s just what you see on social media [that] every team, every player, every person offering their prayers for Damar Hamlin. … The game is so secondary to everything else. No one cares about the game, no, everyone cares about this young man, his family and finding out how he is doing.”

Players from both teams were shocked by what just happened to their colleague and some are even crying.

ESPN and ABC continued their coverage, and more than an hour after Hamlin’s injury, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the Buffalo Bills-Cincinnati Bengals game had been postponed because the player had been taken to the hospital in ‘critical condition’ was taken.

“Hamlin received immediate on-site medical attention from the team and independent medical workers and local paramedics. He was then taken to a local hospital where he is in critical condition,” the NFL’s official statement read.

The statement continued, “Our thoughts are with Damar and the Buffalo Bills. We will provide more information as it becomes available. The NFL has been in constant contact with the NFL Players Association, which has agreed to postpone the game.”

Statement from the NFLPA: “The NFLPA and everyone in our community are praying for Damar Hamlin. We were in contact with players from the Bills and Bengals and the NFL. All that matters now is Damar’s health and well-being.”