Damar Hamlin to Make Season Debut for Dolphins vs. Bills as Comeback Player of the Year Favorite

Dolphins vs. Bills Odds

Bills safety Damar Hamlin is expected to make his season debut for the NFL's game of the year so far: a Sunday 1 p.m. tilt between Buffalo and Miami.

It would mark the first time that Hamlin suits up for an NFL game since suffering a cardiac arrest vs. the Bengals in Jan. 2023. Hamlin had to be resuscitated on the field after a case of commotio cordis, a rare condition that occurs when a specific part of the chest is struck with high force during a specific portion of heartbeat.

The condition has less than a 5% survival rate if not treated within three minutes. The Bills' training staff saved Hamlin's life by performing CPR and utilizing a defibrilator on that field in Cincinnati earlier this year.

Hamlin had suited up for 73 defensive and 19 special teams snaps during preseason but has been inactive for the Bills' first three games of the season.

With safety Jordan Poyer out with a knee injury, however, Hamlin plans on suiting up on Sunday for his first official game since January.

Hamlin had been cleared by three different specialists for football activities in April, but the Bills have been easing him into game intense situations.

The emotions behind Hamlin's life-or-death incident last season galvanized the country. Hamlin's foundation raised over $10 million after his injury, money that is being allocated for youth development. Hamlin won the George Halas Award, given annually to the NFL player, coach or staffer who best overcame adversity that season. Hamlin also presented the Pat Tillman Award to the Bills training staff during the ESPY awards in July during an emotional presentation.

And now, Hamlin is in line for another award for his valor.

Despite missing the first three games of the season, Hamlin is still the favorite to win Comeback Player of the Year. Entering the year, he was a roughly -350 favorite.

During Hamlin's absence, his mark fell to roughly – 125 after the efforts of Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who contemplated retirement over the offseason after three concussions. Tagovailoa is the current favorite to win the MVP and is first in the NFL in expected points per play plus completion percentage over expected (EPA/play + CPOE), the key metric in judging MVP candidates.

On news that Hamlin would play on Sunday, though, his odds to win the award have strengthened to -250. Tagovailoa went from a slight +105 underdog for Comeback Player of the Year to his current mark of +340 at FanDuel.