Buffalo Bills backup quarterback Matt Barkley probably smiled just a bit when Damar Hamlin made a brilliant diving interception during practice on Tuesday.
Considering all that Hamlin had been through over the last year, it was a welcomed sight to see the safety make a play like that during camp.
An errant pass by Barkley to what looked like its intended target, offseason addition wide receiver Andy Isabella, instead ended up in the hands of Hamlin.
The Bills’ safety made the diving catch and then sprung to his feet to run the ball all the way back to the end zone.
Tre’Davious White and Dane Jackson joined him in the end zone to celebrate.
Hamlin has come a long way since last January when he suffered cardiac arrest during Buffalo’s Monday night game against the Bengals in Cincinnati.
The scary episode saw medical personnel have to resuscitate Hamlin on the field during the important matchup.
He was rushed to the hospital, where he’d spend the next week recovering.
He was miraculously cleared to play this season by doctors in April.
Monday also served as a milestone as he returned to the field for his first practice in pads.
“It feels amazing,” Hamlin told reporters, according to the Democrat and Chronicle. “It’s a roller coaster of emotions. I was kind of all over the place, just kind of being back for the first time. But God don’t make no mistakes. I’m on God’s timing. As much as the NFL is on schedule and camp starts this day, this is all God’s timing.”
The 25-year-old safety also told reporters that Monday may have been “one of the biggest” milestones yet in his journey back.
“I made the choice to play. But I’m processing a thousand emotions. I’m not afraid to say that it crosses my mind of being a little scared here and there,” he said, per the Associated Press. “My faith is stronger than any fear. That’s what I want to preach up here. And that’s the message I want to spread on to the world that as long as your faith is stronger than your fear, you can get through anything.”
Hamlin will be competing with Taylor Rapp for a backup role in Buffalo this season.
