Tee Higgins’ first public comments since Damar Hamlin injury: ‘I’m in a good place now’

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Tee Higgins says he’s relieved
to know Damar Hamlin is doing better after he collapsed on the field on Monday.
Higgins said he’s been in contact with the Buffalo Bills safety’s mom in the days after
the game.

The receiver interacted with the media for the first time
after Damar Hamlin collapsed. During the Bengals versus Bills Monday Night
Football matchup, Hamlin tackled Higgins in the first quarter right before he
collapsed on the field. The former Clemson star says when he realized what was
happening, he knew it was a serious situation, reported TMZ.

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Paramedics administered CPR and an Automated External
Defibrillator (AED) on the field for around 10 minutes before taking him to the
University of Cincinnati Medical Center.

“At first, me being a football player, I’m thinking he
just flopped,” Higgins said after practice on Thursday. “I looked
again and saw what happen, I just turned my head and did not think about it. I
knew it was something crazy. Something tragic. It was hard. Obviously, I wasn’t
in a good place to play the rest of that game so I’m kind of glad we chose not
to play,” he added.

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According to TMZ report, after the game was suspended on
Monday night, Higgins immediately went to the hospital to check on Hamlin and
he’s been in contact with Damar’s family in the days following.

Higgins said, “Damar’s mom hit me, texted me this morning,
and told me about everything and it made me feel even more at home. I really
appreciate them, just hearing from them and them having my back as well, so
yeah. Feels good.”

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Despite some people blaming Higgins for the medical
emergency, the receiver said he’s holding up is welcome news.

Hamlin is making a significant recovery as he remains under
constant care in a Cincinnati hospital. He was able to communicate in writing
with nurses Wednesday night, asking who won Monday’s game.

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Higgins acknowledges that it’s going to be a challenge to
move on but as a player, he has to shift his focus to taking the field against
the Baltimore Ravens this Sunday.