One day before the start of the NFL Playoffs, Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin returned to the team facilities. This news had come almost two weeks after he suffered cardiac arrest during the first quarter of the Bills’ week 17 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Following the injury, he had spent close to a week at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and another two days at Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute. He was discharged last Wednesday.

Hamlin’s return has made a positive impact on both players and coaches. Safety Jordan Poyer and Center Mitch Morse said that seeing Hamlin in good spirits at the facility has lifted the team’s spirits. Head Coach Sean McDermott added that Hamlin has been in the team’s facility almost daily and is slowly trying to get back into a routine.

Hamlin was not in attendance for last week’s win over the Miami Dolphins. However, he did arrive at the Bills practice the day before the game with his parents and brother. With the team practicing for their divisional round matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, the return of Hamlin has provided a positive spark to the Buffalo Bills as well as the NFL.

While Hamlin has not been on the field or in the stands during the Bills games, he has been active on Twitter, tweeting words of encouragement towards his teammates as well as his reactions towards plays happening on the field. The city of Buffalo has also shown love towards Hamlin, unveiling a 17-foot tall mural painted by a local artist that is located near the team’s facility. In the mural, Hamlin is in his uniform making a heart gesture. This mural has been recognized by Hamlin on Twitter, responding to a tweet of it with heart hands and fire emojis.

This news is very encouraging for both the NFL and the fans. When Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest, many analysts and fans feared the worst. During the uncertainty regarding the health of Damar Hamlin, people began to show their support by buying Damar Hamlin jerseys and donating to his toy drive fundraiser. NFL teams then decided to honor Hamlin the following week with league-wide tributes and pregame t-shirts being worn by players that said “Love For Damar” with his jersey number, 3, being displayed on it. The support from the league was very touching and to see a player make a recovery from such an unfortunate event is very inspirational and heartwarming.