In what has been a revolving door of injuries at the safety position as the Buffalo Bills move on from the Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer era, head coach Sean McDermott answered an important question about this roster heading into Week 1.
It's been long assumed that Taylor Rapp had one of the starting safety positions locked up. Heading into the first game, McDermott not confirmed that Damar Hamlin is going be the starter at the other position, but shed light on what this means to see Hamlin earn the opportunity.
Sean McDermott discusses what it means for Hamlin to get the start
Everyone knows what Hamlin went through on the field in Cincinnati on January 2, 2023. Now, a year and a half later, Hamlin has not only moved beyond that moment, but has continued to grow and improve, and finds himself as a Week 1 starter.
"I mean, what else can't this young man do?" McDermott said about Hamlin. "I mean, he basically went through what he went through on the field – you guys have written about that over and over, and I mean to come back from that – you know, it's one thing to come back off of an ACL or a broken bone. It's another thing to come back off of what he came back off of, right, let alone just to decide to play football and contact football in full pads at the NFL level. I don't think I need to say anything more. I mean, it's incredible. I think God's hand has been on Damar and his family and will continue to be, and we're just extremely proud and full of full of gratitude to watch him go through what he's went through and where he is now."
It's a huge step for Hamlin. He's earned the job.
"I think it's consistency and opportunity, right? So the opportunity that was there, he took advantage of it and was consistent, built, you know, a certain level of rapport with Rapp, and that's important as well. It's the safety position. So watching those two communicate and, [I'm] anxious to watch both of them play this weekend," McDermott added.
The communication and the rapport is crucial. It's something that this unit will need to build and fortify consistently, and quickly, to solidify the back end of this defense. With Mike Edwards and Cole Bishop still working Hamlin has every opportunity to hold onto this position throughout the season, with his first chance to do so this Sunday.
Related: Key element on offense one of three things that must go right for Buffalo Bills in Week 1
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