Damien Harris: Bills star ‘heading in good direction’ after being rushed to hospital with neck injury in Giants win, says coach Sean McDermott

Buffalo Bills running back Damien Harris is ‘heading in a good direction’ after being put on a stretcher and rushed to hospital with a neck injury in Sunday’s win over the New York Giants.

Harris was taken from the field in an ambulance after suffering a nasty collision with Bobby Okereke shortly before halftime, with doctors and staff immediately running to his aid as he lay motionless on his back.

Fortunately, there was a positive sign when the 26-year-old was eventually taken from the field following a delay of around five minutes.  As he was put on the stretcher, Harris gave a thumbs up to the crowd and sparked cheers inside Highmark Stadium.

Now Bills coach Sean McDermott has provided an encouraging update, revealing the player has full movement in his body and that his scans look good so far.

‘So, things are heading in a good direction right now for Damien,’ McDermott said.

Harris was taken from the field in an ambulance after a nasty collision with Bobby Okereke

Bills coach Sean McDermott has revealed that his running back is ‘heading in a good direction’

The worrying scenes in Buffalo came less than a year after teammate Damar Hamlin needed resuscitation on the field, and the safety was visibly emotional while watching on from the sidelines.

Harris was taken from the field in an ambulance which carried the name and number of Hamlin, who went into cardiac arrest during a ‘Monday Night Football’ game against the Bengals in January. 

The safety collapsed after making a tackle in the early stages of the Bills’ trip to Cincinnati.  

Medics performed CPR on Hamlin, who was put on a ventilator and placed in a medically-induced coma. He remained in a Buffalo hospital for over a week before making a remarkable back to the NFL earlier this season.

Left tackle Dion Dawkins was also left shaken by Sunday’s incident after making sure Harris was breathing as he was taken off the field on a stretcher.

‘It’s really an emotional thing, and people be trying to act like we’re unhuman like… that stuff is real,’ Dawkins said. 

‘It’s very real, and Damien’s our brother. He’s our friend, and we know him personally. 

‘To see him laying down, he just found out two days ago that he was having a boy. They said that it was a neck injury. Imagine if he can’t hold his son off of one play? That’s scary, man. It’s scary. 

Thankfully, former Alabama star Harris gave a thumbs up before he was taken from the field

The ambulance carried the name and number of Damar Hamlin following his own health scare

‘And I take it for what it is, and I take it with respect of God, but like any moment, it could be it.’

Quarterback Josh Allen also said: ‘You never want to see that. That’s the ugly part of the game. 

‘He’s been so great, Damien, coming here, and I know he’s only been here for a few months, obviously this training camp, but the juice that he brings and the tough-nose running that he brings to this offense, you can’t really replace it, you know? 

‘And I’m hoping he’s all right. Praying for him, him and his family.’