“This is f**kin wild” – Bills fans have mixed reactions over Damar Hamlin being the 12th man on field resulting in a penalty that cost them the game against the Broncos

Hamlin completed one solo tackle on his return.

“This is f**kin wild” – Bills fans have mixed reactions over Damar Hamlin being the 12th man on field resulting in a penalty that cost them the game against the Broncos

Damar Hamlin (Image via Sky Sports)

Damar Hamlin‘s first appearance in 2023 turned into a situation of controversy. The Buffalo Bills safety allegedly came on in the dying embers at Orchard Park on Monday night to feel a few snaps.

With under 2 minutes on the clock against the Denver Broncos, the Bills sent Hamlin on to replace safety Cam Lewis, who went down holding his right arm. He walked onto the pitch with a resounding applause from the crowd and immediately went into work mode.

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The score was 22-21 in favor of the Bills, but the Broncos had the ball in their possession. Hamlin watched with an eagle eye as Denver quarterback Russell Wilson stitched up a few passes and entered the home team’s territory.

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He was called into action moments later when Wilson aimed at tight end Adam Trautman near the sidelines. The 25-year-old, without wasting any time, pounced on him, and the play ended with Sean Payton calling a time-out.

Everything was fine until now, but what happened next has left football fans scratching their hands. It was third down, and the Broncos still hadn’t crossed the halfway mark with just 30 seconds left. Wilson threw a deep pass to Jerry Jeudy, with Bills corner Taron Johnson covering the receiver. Johnson was adjudged to have committed pass interference.

Social media baffled with Damar Hamlin’s first start after months on the sidelines

Denver had the chance to win it with a field goal. Will Lutz ran in to take the spot kick from 41 yards but missed. However, the referees threw a yellow and announced that there were 12 players on the field. Lutz converted on this occasion, winning the game for the Broncos.

"This is f**kin wild" - Bills fans have mixed reactions over Damar Hamlin being the 12th man on field resulting in a penalty that cost them the game against the Broncos
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (Image via Sky Sports)

Hamlin was running off the field late, but the Bills appeared to have an extra lineman out there for the entirety of the play. The Bills did not say exactly who was not supposed to still be on the field. However, social media has generated some wild theories regarding who was the 12th man. A few pointed fingers at none other than Damar Hamlin.

https://twitter.com/balboniKnows/status/1724299244905943045
https://twitter.com/HoopWrld/status/1724301588892660152

To answer the question of whether Damar Hamlin was on the field during the kick, he apparently wasn’t. The 6th round pick, when he first came on, wore bright red hand protection. When the commentators paused to check on the number of players lined up for the kick, there appeared to be no one with the said description.

Hamlin’s return did not go as planned, but at the very least he is back to playing football. In January, when he lay motionless at Paycore Stadium, many feared the worst. But he managed to stay in there and recover. The safety is even close to winning the Comeback Player of the Year award. He is still young and has a long road ahead of him.

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