Damar Hamlin on first padded practice back - 'It feels amazing' - ESPN

PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Damar Hamlin was on one knee, warming up in his usual spot all the way to the left on the defensive line. Head athletic trainer Nate Breske came over to him, talked for a little and pointed and waved in the direction of Hamlin's family.

The moment was one of my many little ones that, without context, would be considered normal at the first padded practice of Buffalo Bills training camp. Hamlin stretching out his arms and putting his head to the sky during warmups. The first pass Hamlin defensed in the 11-on-11 period where he made contact with the receiver. Throwing the ball with his eight-year-old brother, Damir, after practice.

For the first time since suffering cardiac arrest on a football field in Cincinnati on Jan. 2, Hamlin participated in a padded practice and the little moments transformed into remarkable ones.

«It feels amazing,» Hamlin said of being in pads again in his first news conference since April. «It's a roller coaster of emotions. I was kind of all over the place, just kind of being back for the first time. But God don't make no mistakes. I'm on God's timing. As much as the NFL is on schedule and camp starts this day, this is all God's timing.»

Hamlin, who has been a full participant in Bills practices since OTAs in early June, had his parents, Mario and Nina, and his agent, Ira Turner, in attendance and watching from the sidelines as he cleared a «super big hurdle» in his journey.

«I pretty much lost my life playing this sport. So, to come back and do it all over again, it's all over the place,» Hamlin said. «I'm rooted in my faith. I'm rooted in the love that I receive from my family, my teammates and the love all around the world. That keeps me going. And I've got goals that I