Damar Hamlin asked about Bills' game result after waking up, doctors say

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Doctors at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center said Thursday that Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has made "substantial progress" in the last 24 hours, so much so that he was able to ask medical staff "who won?" Monday night’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

Officials with the hospital gave an update on Hamlin’s condition during a press conference on Thursday afternoon, and they noted that while he is still not able to speak, he has been communicating by writing.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin warms up prior to the game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Jan. 2, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. (Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

And the first thing he asked about was the crucial Week 17 matchup against the Bengals. 

DAMAR HAMLIN APPEARS TO BE ‘NEUROLOGICALLY INTACT,’ TEAM SAYS; TEAMMATE ADDS PLAYER IS ‘AWAKE’

"We’re in the situation where we wanted to allow him to gradually wake up as the rest of his body was healing, and last night he was able to emerge and follow commands and even asked who had won the game," Dr. Timothy Pritts said.

"When he asked did we win, the answer is yes, Damar, you won the game of life."

Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills (Timothy T. Ludwig/Getty Images/File)

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Pritts added that Hamlin was "beginning to awaken" on Thursday morning and that it appeared that his "neurological condition and function is intact," despite still being "critically ill."

"There has been substantial improvement in his condition in the last 24 hours. We had significant concern about him after the injury and after the event that happened on the field, but he is making substantial progress."

Damar Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills, right, reacts after a tackle against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Oct. 9, 2022, in Orchard Park, New York. (Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)

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Hamlin collapsed on the field Monday night after suffering cardiac arrest. Doctors at the hospital said he is still on a breathing tube but has made a "fairly remarkable recovery."

"The last three days he has been very sick and has made a fairly remarkable recovery and improvement to the point, as [Dr. Pritts] noted, he is now demonstrating that sign of good neurological recovery as well as overall clinical improvement," Dr. William A. Knight added.