When can Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin return to NFL action?

Damar Hamlin’s terrifying medical emergency on Monday Night matchup between Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals became one of the biggest stories in the country over the last week. Days after, the Buffalo Bills safety is breathing on his own and speaking to his family, doctors, and teammates. Bills players say that the positive updates will boost them in this weekend’s game against the New England Patriots.

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He “is making continued progress in his recovery yet remains in critical condition” and “his neurologic function is excellent,” the Bills wrote on Twitter Saturday, citing his physicians.

“There are many, many steps still ahead of him,” said Timothy Pritts, a surgeon at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine during the press conference. “From our standpoint, we would like to see him continue to improve, to be completely breathing on his own, and then to be ready to be discharged from the hospital,” he added.

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According to UC Health doctor William Knight, Hamlin had “no identifiable neurologic deficit,” though it is still too soon to know if he will make a full recovery and return to football.

Hamlin made a tackle against Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins in the first quarter, popped back up on his feet, and then collapsed. Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest and was given immediate CPR on the field for about 10 minutes before an ambulance took him to a local hospital in Cincinnati.

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“To hear him talk to us, it was everything, and that’s what we needed. Literally that’s all we needed,” Bills offensive tackle Dion Dawkins said after the team’s Friday video call with Hamlin.

“Love you boys,” the 24-year-old player said to his team Friday via FaceTime. Hamlin flexed his arms and made his signature heart-shaped hand gesture during the call, said head coach Sean McDermott.

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The Bills placed Hamlin on injured reserve, the team announced on Friday. In another move, the team activated cornerback Christian Benford from the injured reserve.