by Buffalo Bills star Stefon Diggs was among thousands of people excited and upset when Damar Hamlin went into cardiac arrest during a regular season game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
There were times when it got a little difficult for Hamlin. His heartbeat was restored on the field at Paycor Stadium and he was rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where doctors treated him for days. Miraculously, Hamlin was conscious, talking, and moving within a few days.
On Wednesday, NFL Players Association medical director Thom Mayer said Hamlin will be able to play football again.
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Damar Hamlin attends the 12th Annual NFL Honors at Symphony Hall on February 9, 2023 in Phoenix. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
“I don’t want to get into HIPAA, but I guarantee Damar Hamlin will be back to play professional soccer,” Mayer said on SiriusXM Radio.
Diggs spoke to Fox News Digital on Thursday and called Hamlin’s recovery “very encouraging.”
“It’s inspiring. And it makes you believe again. We live in a real world, but sometimes football is so much an entertainment business that you lose sight of it, it’s life,” the star wide receiver said. “People are giving everything they have and things can happen out there.
“So it puts you in a different frame of mind and makes you appreciate it more — appreciate the love of the game, appreciate life. It makes you feel like this guy can do it, anyone can. Watching him fight and seeing every prayer answered , he was getting a lot of people to pray for him.”
BUFFALO BILLS SAFETY DAMAR HAMLIN BRINGS PRAYER AND FAITH BACK TO NFL AFTER CARDIAC ARREST
Stefon Diggs of the Buffalo Bills and AFC competes in the Best Catch event during the 2023 NFL Pro Bowl Games at Allegiant Stadium on February 5, 2023 in Las Vegas. (Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)
Diggs capped the 2022 season with a Pro Bowl appearance last week. He had 108 receptions for 1,429 yards and a career-high 11 touchdowns.
The now two-time Pro Bowler enjoyed the new format that featured a number of games, including a 7-on-7 flag football competition.
“I always have a great time at the Pro Bowl, considering this is my second time going,” he said. “My first was COVID, so we really couldn’t do much. But I’ll always be around. I have a great time, with great people, being with family, being with our fans.
“They changed it up and they did it the right way. It’s still a competition. And with the game of flag football, it’s still competitive, but guys can still play hard without worrying too much about getting hurt or colliding with a guy who’s too strong.” It still got physical, but it was good for the fans to see and it was something the league should continue to do.”
BILLS’ DAMAR HAMLIN GIVES EMOTIONAL SPEECH AT NFL HONORS
Diggs was able to play against his brother, Dallas Cowboys defensive back Trevon Diggs, and threw an interception at him in the flag football game.
“I can’t compare it to any other feeling, it’s a blessing,” he told Fox News Digital about playing against his brother. “My mother’s womb, obviously she’s bringing out some good things. So a lot of credit to her. Being there with my brother is like someone you grew up with and always played with. Before it was jokes and games and now it’s jokes and games again.” .
Stefon Diggs, number 14 of the Buffalo Bills, runs onto the field before a game against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium on January 8, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)
While Diggs won’t be playing in the Super Bowl, he still took part in the festivities. He teamed up with Fast Twitch, a new energy drink from Gatorade. He participated in the Fast Twitch immersive tunnel experience. Diggs said that he was in love when he walked in and found a huge mural of himself.
He is one of the NFL players who recently partnered with Fast Twitch and being with Gatorade as a whole was a dream come true for him.
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“It’s actually something that I’ve been wanting throughout my career for all these years,” he said. “We grew up drinking Gatorade. It was an everyday thing. So I felt like it was a big fir for me and something I always wanted.”
