The outpouring of support for Buffalo Bills safety Dummer Hamlin continued Wednesday, becoming the first NFL team since Hamlin went into cardiac arrest and was resuscitated on the field during the broadcast of “Monday Night Football.” I returned to practice.

Hamlin, 24, was sedated and critically ill in a Cincinnati hospital. His recovery is progressing in a “positive direction,” a Hamlin marketer said Wednesday.

“We are all optimistic,” Jordan Rooney told The Associated Press, adding that at the request of the family, he was unable to elaborate further on Hamlin’s situation.

Chargers and Rams players and coaches expressed support and said they were praying for Hamlin and his family.

Several Chargers coaches are associated with Hamlin.

A display of Buffalo Bills’ Damar Hamlin is assembled outside the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where players are being treated.

(Aaron Doster/Associated Press)

Coach Brandon Staley said he hired the teenage Hamlin as an assistant at John Carroll University. Hill served as his coach defensively as he was Buck’s assistant. Receivers coach Chris Beatty was also Pitt’s assistant while Hamlin was there.

“This is a great kid,” Staley said. “You know this guy, so he’s a little more personal.”

The Chargers brought in team physician Dr. Eugene Yim to speak with the players and detail what happened on the play. Team Pastor George Gregory and Team Clinician Dr. Herb Martin were also present.

“The important thing is to tell them what happened, what really happened on the field from a medical standpoint,” Staley said.

Hamlin went down after tackling Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. Chargers defensive lineman Sebastian Joseph Day described the incident as “hit by lightning.”

“The chances of that happening were very slim,” said Joseph Day. “It was just a freak accident. I think learning about it, talking to the brothers and praying for Damar will help the athlete get through it.”

Linebacker Drue Tranquill said he was shocked to see the play and its aftermath.

“You realize it could have been you,” he said. “We know what it’s like to see a brother or teammate go down with an injury. But to see a life-or-death scenario play out on national television in front of you? .”

Last season, tight end Donald Parham Jr. suffered a serious concussion during a nationally televised game and was hospitalized for several days.

“I found myself feeling like, ‘Dan, that was me last year and I was out on the field and feeling hopeless,'” he said. I believe you will be healthy in the future.”

The scoreboard at Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park displays a picture of Dummer Hamlin of the Buffalo Bills.

(Darron Cummings/Associated Press)

Rams coach Sean McVay mentioned Hamlin’s situation at the beginning of a team meeting, where the players also met in small groups.

“The most important thing is to understand that this is bigger than football,” McVay said. “How are they feeling? How can we give them the resources and support they need to handle these kinds of things?

“I never want to be numb about these kinds of things, but make sure you understand and be there for these guys, whether or not you’re just listening. Whether it’s their teammate, counselor, or team pastor, it’s my vantage point.”

The clash between Hamlin and Higgins “looked like a normal play – and that’s the scary part,” quarterback Baker Mayfield said.

“This is a violent sport,” said Mayfield.

Eleventh-year professional linebacker Bobby Wagner says he has dealt with tough situations throughout his career, including the 2015 incident in which Seattle Seahawks teammate Ricardo Lockett suffered a fatal neck injury. .

“It’s important for people to understand that we have pads, we have helmets…we work out, we look big, but at the end of the day, we’re human.” He said. “

Wagner said allowing players to express their feelings about the Hamlin situation was paramount.

“Because this sport is just a ‘manly sport,’ what we are taught to do in this sport is to hide our feelings, to hide our emotions, and to express these feelings and emotions.” When you express it, you lose your masculinity. Or castrate you,” said Wagner. “I think it’s a myth. Talking about your feelings, talking about things that affect you mentally and physically is the most manly thing to do because it takes a lot of courage to talk about those things.” This is because

“So you talk about those feelings, you express those feelings, you feel those feelings, and you realize that at the end of the day you have work to do, and you find a way to do it.

McVay said he has spoken to players who have expressed that they may not be ready to play in Sunday’s season finale against the Seattle Seahawks in light of Hamlin’s situation.

“From my point of view, they know that I support them 100% unconditionally, no matter what they are feeling.

All decisions will be respected, said rookie cornerback Derion Kendrick.

“We always support our brothers,” he said. It’s not going to change how we think about you. “

The Associated Press contributed to this report.