Damar Hamlin has shown ‘signs of improvement’ but remains in critical condition, team says

Cincinnati was leading 7-3 when Hamlin tackled Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins after a 13-yard gain. Hamlin stood up from what seemed like a routine play before he went limp and fell backward to the ground at Paycor Stadium.

Hamlin went into cardiac arrest, and his “heartbeat was restored on the field,” the Bills have said.

The game was postponed, and league officials said Wednesday they’ve only just started internal talks about how to reschedule or scratch the contest.

Week 18 games — set to be the final ones of the regular season — will go on as scheduled, the NFL said.

All scenarios are on the table, and Troy Vincent, the NFL’s executive vice president of football operations, warned teams and fans that the final decision could be unpopular with some clubs.

The 12-3 Bills are a half-game behind the 13-3 Kansas City Chiefs for the AFC’s No. 1 seed. The Bills own a tiebreaker over the Chiefs by virtue of their win at Kansas City in October.

“There may be a lack of equity, where it may not be perfect,” Vincent said. “But it’ll allow those that are participating who have earned that right to play to continue to play.”

At a 38-minute meeting with reporters, NFL officials were asked repeatedly whether the Bills were emotionally prepared to play their next scheduled game Sunday against the New England Patriots.

Each time, league officials declined to guarantee that the contest would go on as scheduled.

“It’s really important that we just keep the pulse of the coach and the players and don’t get in front of that,” Vincent said.

Referring to Buffalo coach Sean McDermott, he said, “We’ll allow Sean and his team and his staff and the players, which are the most important thing here, to guide us.”