Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin he is awake and breathing on his own after doctors removed his breathing tube overnight.
Friday’s positive news follows reports Thursday that doctors have seen «marked improvement» in Hamlin and that he appears to be «neurologically intact.»
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, #3, warms up before the game against the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals on January 2, 2023 at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.
(Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Hamlin FaceTimed with his Bills teammates on Friday morningwith the sophomore pro sharing a special message for his teammates.
BILLS’ DAMAR HAMLIN IS TALKING TO TEAM AFTER BREATHING TUBE IS REMOVED, SAYS BUFFALO IN MAJOR HEALTH UPDATE
«I love you guys,» Hamlin said.
Since the terrifying events of Monday night when Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest on the field against the Cincinnati Bengals, thoughts and prayers have reached out to Hamlin and his family.
Thursday, Bengals rookie long snapper Cal Adomitis, a high school and college teammate of Hamlin’s, shared his thoughts on the positive news about Hamlin’s condition.
Cincinnati Bengals long snapper Cal Adomitis, #48, walks off the field after the game against the Carolina Panthers and the Cincinnati Bengals on November 6, 2022 at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati.
(Ian Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
«We just got some great t-shirts today that I’m sure a lot of guys will be wearing,» Adomitis told reporters Thursday when asked how the team can honor Hamlin on Sunday.
«I wholeheartedly believe in the power of prayer. And I know that everyone in this locker room has been praying for him non-stop,» he continued. «That’s the best you can do right now.»
Adomitis and Hamlin attended Central Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, and the two played soccer together at the university of pittsburgh.
DAMAR HAMLIN’S FATHER ADDRESSES ENTIRE BILLS TEAM, BUFFALO TO PRACTICE FOR FIRST TIME SINCE COLLAPSE
Adomitis was a year behind Hamlin in high school.
New England Patriots wide receiver Matthew Slater, #18, Cincinnati Bengals long snapper Cal Adomitis, #48, New England Patriots wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, #84, New England Patriots linebacker Josh Uche, #55, New England Patriots free safety Devin McCourty, #32, and New England Patriots outside linebacker Matt Judon, #9, pray together after of a game between the New England Patriots and the Cincinnati Bengals on December 24, 2022, at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts. The Bengals defeated the Patriots 22-18.
(Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The two shared a quick greeting before the start of Monday’s game, which the NFL said Thursday would not resume.
«He was definitely always kind of a big guy on campus until high school. He had offers of 40-something shots. He’s always the kind of guy who treats everyone the same,» Adomitis said of Hamlin, according to Cleveland.com.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Damar Hamlin, number 3 of the Buffalo Bills, stands near the sideline during introductions before an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium on January 2, 2023 in Cincinnati.
(Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
«I’ve been the kind of guy who’s been struggling to get on the field since my sophomore year in high school, but yet he always treats me the same as everyone else on that team. I think that’s very nice.» A real statement of character from him, really.»
The Bills prepare for their final game of the regular season on Sunday against the New England Patriots.
Paulina Dedaj of Fox News contributed to this report