Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin's condition moving in 'positive direction': Family spokesperson
Doctors told family members Wednesday morning that Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin's condition is moving in a "positive direction" after collapsing two days ago from cardiac arrest during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, according to Hamlin family spokesperson Jordon Rooney.
Rooney told ABC News he could not qualify or elaborate on what "positive direction" meant, but said doctors are seeing the progress they are looking for.
Hamlin, 24, remains hospitalized in critical condition in the intensive care unit at University of Cincinnati Medical Center. The second-year safety from the University of Pittsburgh collapsed during the Monday Night Football game against the Bengals after making a tackle in the first quarter.
MORE: Damar Hamlin's collapse is the latest in history of medical emergencies in sports
The game was halted and then suspended indefinitely after doctors provided CPR to resuscitate Hamlin on the field before taking him to the hospital. There has been no decision yet on whether the game will be continued at a later date, the NFL said.
The Bills also confirmed that Hamlin has shown "signs of improvement" Tuesday and overnight.
"He is expected to remain under intensive care as his health care team continues to monitor and treat him," the team tweeted Wednesday.
In an interview with ABC News, Rooney also clarified statements made by Hamlin's uncle, Dorrian Glenn, who said Tuesday that Hamlin had to be resuscitated twice -- on the field and at the hospital. Rooney said that was a misunderstanding and that Hamlin was not resuscitated more than once.
Responding to reports that the defibrillator used on Hamlin malfunctioned, Rooney said those reports were incorrect and that all of the medical equipment worked properly.
President Joe Biden told reporters on Wednesday that he spoke to Hamlin's parents "at length," though he did not elaborate on the conversation.
Hamlin's family thanked the "dedicated first responders and healthcare professionals" at the hospital for their "exceptional care" in a statement released Tuesday.
Medical staff from both team teams responded at the scene, Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL's chief medical officer, said.
"It's certainly not an exaggeration to say that the skilled and immediate response by all of these talented caregivers prevented a very tragic outcome at that moment," Sills told reporters during a briefing by the NFL on Wednesday.
There has been some speculation in the medical community that Hamlin suffered from commotio cordis, a rare condition that occurs when the heart's rhythm is disrupted due to a blow to the chest that lands at a very specific moment in the heartbeat. Sills said it "certainly is possible" that Hamlin had the condition, but that "there's still a lot of investigation that needs to happen."
Commotio cordis is "almost a diagnosis of exclusion," meaning that no other cause has been found, Sills said. In some cases of cardiac arrest, the cause may go undiagnosed, Dr. Jim Ellis, the NFL's director of emergency preparedness, said.
"The difficulty you have in this particular case, obviously a 24-year-old, very healthy, fit male, sometimes you just may not find the cause," he told reporters during a press call. "There's not always a pathway. You can't get an MRI, a CT scan, there's no blood test in particular that's going to tell you exactly why they had that, certainly nothing for commotio cordis."
Sills said the league will examine whether any changes need to be made to the players' protective equipment, as is customary after someone is evacuated from the field. Shoulder pads typically cover the sternum, which is the "major area of interest for prevention" of commotio cordis, he said.
Both doctors commended the quick response on the field.
"I think the important lesson that we can all take away from this is really, for every sport at every level, for preparation for a sudden cardiac event," including proper training and having automated external defibrillators available, Sills said.
"That is a very, very key message and something we can all learn from," he added.
Troy Vincent, the league's executive vice president of football operations, got emotional talking about Hamlin and called the medical response "outstanding."
"You gave our brother Damar another day to live, another chance to fight," Vincent said, his voice shaking.
MORE: Difference between cardiac arrest and heart attack after Damar Hamlin's collapse
Buffalo Bills players returned to their practice facility on Wednesday, but said they would not be meeting with media.
The New England Patriots, who are still scheduled to face Buffalo in Sunday's final game of the season, said in a statement both teams had been given an extra day before meeting with the media "due to these unique circumstances."
Vincent told reporters Wednesday that he is letting the Bills take the lead on whether to postpone the game.
"It's really important that we just keep the pulse of the coach and the players, and don't get in front of that," he said. "And we will allow [Bills head coach] Sean [McDermott] and his team and his staff and the players, which are the most important thing here, to guide us if we have to make that decision collectively with the club."
The Pro Football Hall of Fame also announced Tuesday night it would be delaying its announcement of the 15 finalists for this year's class out of respect to Hamlin.
ABC News' Mark Osborne contributed to this report.
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin's condition moving in 'positive direction': Family spokesperson originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
