Buffalo Bills running back Damien Harris was taken off the field in an ambulance after a hard hit that injured his neck Sunday night, a terrifying scene reminiscent of Damar Hamlin’s collapse 10 months ago.
Late in the second quarter of the “Sunday Night Football” game in Orchard Park, New York, Harris ran up the middle on a third-and-inches play and was brought down by New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke.
After the tackle, Harris was conscious — moving his arms and head — but he could not get up as concerned teammates and opponents gathered around him.
A hush fell over Highmark Stadium as medical personnel rushed on to the field, secured Harris to a stretcher and loaded him into an ambulance. Play was restarted after a five-minute delay.
The Bills announced Harris had injured his neck and was out for the rest of the game.
Relieved Bills coach Sean McDermott said after the game that Harris was “heading in a good direction” and had regained “full movement” of his extremities.
“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.”
Harris, 26, a backup running back, is in his fifth season of professional football after having played at Alabama. This is his first season in Buffalo after he spent the previous four campaigns with the New England Patriots.
His best season was in 2021, when he rushed for 929 yards and scored 15 touchdowns.
The ambulance that took Harris off the field n Sunday is decorated with “3” on each of its back doors, in honor of Hamlin, his teammate who nearly died on the field during a Jan. 3 game in Cincinnati last season.
Hamlin went into cardiac arrest after a routine tackle early in that game. Medical personnel performed CPR and his heartbeat was restored before he was rushed to the hospital and the game was called off.
He has rejoined the team, but he has played sparingly this season.
