Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, who suffered a cardiac arrest on the field during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, is set to make his return to competitive play in the team's first preseason game. The Bills shared photos on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) of Hamlin warming up before the game against the Indianapolis Colts at the Bills' home stadium. The images show Hamlin from behind, dressed in the team's white uniform and red accessories.

Hamlin's journey back to the field has been long and challenging. He collapsed after a play in January 2023 and had to have his heartbeat restored on the field before being rushed to the hospital. He spent several weeks in the hospital, but gradually began to show signs of improvement. He was eventually transferred to Buffalo General Hospital before being sent home in January.

Despite his ordeal, Hamlin continued to support the team throughout the season, even attending their games and cheering them on from home. In April, the team announced that Hamlin was three months into his recovery and in late July, they confirmed that he was ahead of schedule. Now, after being cleared by multiple specialists, Hamlin is ready to take the next major step in his comeback and play in a preseason game.

Bills head coach Sean McDermott has been closely monitoring Hamlin's progress and has praised his resilience. McDermott stated that the team is taking a "day at a time" approach to Hamlin's playing status but later confirmed that he is scheduled to play in the preseason opener against the Colts.

Hamlin himself is focused on taking things step by step and not looking too far ahead. He believes that staying in the present allows him to process his journey more effectively. He revealed that doctors determined his cardiac arrest was caused by commotio cordis, a rare consequence of blunt force trauma to the heart that disrupts its rhythm.

Many have hailed Hamlin's comeback as courageous, and his teammates are thrilled to see him back on the field. As the preseason comes to a close, Hamlin will face another challenge when the Bills make their final cuts to establish their 53-man roster on August 29. But for now, Hamlin is enjoying the opportunity to return to what he loves and appreciating the normalcy of being back on the football field.