Remember the Bills player who almost died on the field in 2022? That’s who Tua collided with

The player on the other end of the hit that landed Tua Tagovailoa in concussion protocol has quite the history with injuries.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin was involved in the collision that could potentially hold Tagovailoa out for the foreseeable future. Hamlin infamously suffered cardiac arrest after he was hit in chest during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022.

“My love and prayers with @Tua fasho,” Hamlin tweeted early Friday morning following the Bills’ 31-10 victory against the Miami Dolphins. “Sending you strength and healing for a speedy recovery.“

Hamlin’s scenario differed greatly from Tagovailoa’s. The safety’s situation was so bad that he likely would’ve died if it weren’t for the quickness of the on-site medical team. Both teams even agreed to cancel the game. He returned in a 2023 game against the Indianapolis Colts.

“I don’t feel like I have nothing to prove at all,” Hamlin told The Athletic in 2023. “I don’t. But in a way, it’s kind of like proving it to myself and just accepting the challenge of being able to go through something so tough and come back, that nothing can stop you from doing what you want to do and reaching the heights that you want to reach.”

Toward the end of the third quarter, Tagovailoa scrambled toward the first down marker when his head collided with Hamlin’s abdomen. The franchise quarterback laid on the ground for minutes before walking off the field on his own. Tagovailoa was later ruled out with a concussion. He was diagnosed with at least two in 2022.

“‘He’s the starting quarterback of his family,’” coach Mike McDaniel recalled telling Tagovailoa after the hit. “‘Go in the locker room, take a deep breath and I’ll see you soon.’”

When Tagovailoa will return is unclear. Many players, commentators and even a few Hall of Famers have stated that he should retire. McDaniel, however, doesn’t even believe that conversation is worth having how.

“It would be so wrong of me to even sniff that subject,” McDaniel said Friday morning. “... I’m gonna plead with everybody that does genuinely care, that [retirement] should be the last thing on your mind.”