sport news NFL players 'express a reluctance to return to the field' this week as Damar ... trends now
NFL players are reportedly expressing reluctance to return to playing following Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest.
The Buffalo Bills safety, 24, remains sedated in the ICU after he collapsed on the field and was resuscitated following a hit on Cincinnati Bengals' Tee Higgins Monday.
Members from boths teams were visibly stunned as medical staff gave Hamlin CPR on the field with some even breaking down into tears at the traumatic scene.
Players are reportedly expressing reluctance to return to after Damar Hamlin collapsed
Both Bills (above) and Bengals players were visibly upset as Hamlin received CPR on the field
And there have already been talks about whether some players across the league feel ready to return to the field to play this weekend, according to a report from the Wall Street Journal.
As prayers and wishes have flooded in from the league, some stars, whether they witnessed the incident firsthand on the field or on the television, are said to have expressed a desire for Week 18 games to be delayed with NFL agent David Canter saying it 'has been a real conversation' over the last two days since Hamlin's incident.
The topic of mental health among athletes has become more prominent in recent years after stars such as Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka have opened up on struggles.
A recent study from 2019 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, found that elite athletes may suffer from higher rates of trauma-related mental disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, than the general population.
The 24-year-old remains in intensive care after suffering a heart attack on Monday
As a result, sports officials are reportedly increasingly being asked to treat athletes' mental health on a par with their physical well-being.
A sports psychologist, Dr. Scott Goldman, added that the situation poses a difficult debate as everyone deals with trauma differently.
He explained that some players 'could not fathom playing' while their peer is still in an unstable condition, while returning to the field could provide 'sanctuary and a distraction' for others.
The day after Hamlin’s collapse, both the NFL Players Association and the league drew attention to mental health options available to players.
The NFLPA tweeted: 'ALL players: please reach out if you need someone to talk to. There are several resources available to you,' with a link to counseling options on the NFLPA website.
In a memo sent to teams Tuesday, commissioner Roger Goodell said that each club had received information from Dr. Nyaka NiiLampti, the league’s vice president of wellness and clinical services, about mental health and support resources available to players and staff. It added that additional resources could be made available to any team that requests them.
The Bills will hold practice for the first time since Damar Hamlin's cardiac arrest on Wednesday
Buffalo is scheduled to face the New England Patriots at 1pm on Sunday in Week 18
The NFL confirmed Tuesday that the remainder of the pivotal Bills-Bengals game will not be played
