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Damar Hamlin discharged from hospital, cleared to rehab at home and with the Bills

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin continues to make huge strides in his recovery after experiencing cardiac arrest. Hamlin was discharged from the hospital Wednesday, and is clear to continue his rehab at home and with the Bills, the team announced.

Hamlin was initially hospitalized in Cincinnati. He was cleared to travel to a Buffalo hospital on Monday. Hamlin updated fans Tuesday and let them know he still needed to pass a few tests to be discharged.

He passed those tests Wednesday.

The news comes nine days after Hamlin experienced cardiac arrest during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Hamlin received CPR and was defibrillated on the field. The NFL suspended the game.

Hamlin was transferred to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He was outfitted with a breathing tube and deemed in critical condition.

A few days later, Hamlin woke up and showed signs of neurological function. Doctors said Hamlin was making "substantial progress," but still had to clear other bars in his recovery. Hamlin continued to improve, and the breathing tube was eventually removed. He was able to speak with Bills teammates days before their Week 18 game against the New England Patriots. Hamlin watched that contest — which saw Bills running back Nyheim Hines run back the opening kickoff for a touchdown — and tweeted about the experience.

A week after experiencing cardiac arrest, Hamlin was cleared to leave the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He was discharged from that hospital, but would be transferred to the Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute for further testing. Hamlin tweeted Tuesday that he was not home yet and still needed to pass additional tests to be discharged from the hospital in Buffalo.

It's unclear what Hamlin's recovery holds for him now that he's back at home. The Bills will take on the Miami Dolphins in the wild-card round Sunday. It would be quite the moment if Hamlin was able to make an appearance at that game, but only if he's deemed healthy enough to attend.

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - JANUARY 08: A Buffalo Bills fan holds a sign in support of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin during a game against the New England Patriots at Highmark Stadium on January 08, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during the Bills' Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals and remains in intensive care. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
A fan holds a sign in support of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin during a game at Highmark Stadium on Jan. 8, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)