CINCINNATI — The Bengals were back at Paycor Stadium Wednesday for a walk-through and team meetings- the first since Monday night’s game where Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and the game was postponed.
Players and Coach Zac Taylor talked with media for the first time since the incident.
What You Need To Know
- Damar Hamlin remains in critical condition after he suffered cardiac arrest Monday night against the Cincinnati Bengals
- Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that the team is working to give space to the Bills while also supporting them
- Burrow said it’s been a very emotional 48 hours and that players have mixed feelings about playing this coming Sunday
- The Bengals still have to prepare for their season finale on Sunday against the Ravens
Zac Taylor started his press conference with more information about what happened Monday night. He shared that on the field, there was never a moment where the two teams felt pushed or asked to resume the game.
Taylor said both teams went to the locker rooms just to try to gather their thoughts. Taylor wouldn’t divulge all the conversations he had with Bills head coach Sean McDermott, but he did say when the two coaches met on the field that McDermott said he had to be at the hospital with Hamlin. At that moment, Taylor said there was no question the game could go on.
Bills players, coaches and staff pray on the field during Monday night’s game. (AP Photo)
Taylor said the support from the Bengals fans around Damar and the Bills organization has been inspiring to see.
“It’s bigger than football obviously, it’s taking care of people,” Taylor said. “I think Cincinnati and Buffalo are very similar in that way, just the communities and the way that people are. So again, that’s just been, I’m not out and about, I’m here so I don’t get to see all that. But I know what my wife tells me, I know what I’ve seen and just the outpouring of support has been incredible. It’s not surprising. You all know my feelings about Cincinnati, people I know in Buffalo, it’s the same way. Just two communities that have been there for each other.”
Bengals Wide Receiver Tee Higgins was tackled by Hamlin before Hamlin passed out on the field. Higgins was at the walk-through Wednesday and at some points even had a smile on his face. Head Coach Zac Taylor said that Higgins is doing fine and handling the situation.
Higgins and Tyler Boyd, Hamlin’s college teammate, were next to each other during stretches as well. Taylor said one of the conversations on the field on Monday was with Boyd, who explained that Hamlin is a friend.
Fans gather outside the hospital where Hamlin remains under treatment. (AP Photo)
Captains Joe Burrow and DJ Reader also spoke Thursday after their walk-through. Burrow was asked about the moment he embraced Bills quarterback Josh Allen- he said at that point it was all about unity.
“We were all feeling the same way,” Burrow said. “We were all there to support each other in that moment because as scary as it was for them, personally, it was just as scary for me. I didn’t personally know Damar, but we’re all brothers in this thing. We’re all part of the same institution. Playing this game that we love for each other. I was feeling the same way. I didn’t know how to react to it. I just tried to go out there and show unity and show support and be around the people I cared about.”
Now, this team has the very difficult task of trying to move on and play a very important game on Sunday against the Ravens. Burrow said he’s not sure what the emotions of the team will be like once they step on the field, but he said they are all there for each other as they deal with those emotions.
