A frightening scene in Orchard Park, N.Y. — Buffalo Bills running back Damien Harris, immobilized, was taken off the field in an ambulance after suffering what appears to be a serious injury in the matchup against the New York Giants. Here’s the latest on what we know.
Latest Damien Harris Injury Update
Harris was down on the ground after a clean hit by Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke on a short run. An ambulance came on the field for him, and the entire team surrounded him. Harris was strapped to a backboard and placed on a stretcher, and he gave a thumbs up on his way out.
Per the Bills communications team, Harris suffered a neck injury and was ruled out for the game. He has movement in his arms and legs and is being taken to the hospital for further testing. Bills coach Sean McDermott had no further updates coming out of halftime.
However, after the game, McDermott told reporters that Harris’ scans all came back positive, and the RB has full movement.
For the Bills organization, it was a traumatic reminder of one of the scariest moments in franchise history when safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on the field last year.
Medics were able to resuscitate Hamlin, and he has since made a full recovery. NBC cameras captured an emotional Hamlin on the sidelines as medical personnel tended to Harris. The ambulance doors had Hamlin jerseys in the window.
Damar Hamlin with all the real, deep emotions about what he went through back on January 2, with his Bills teammate Damien Harris on the ground, in the latest frightening #NFL injury 🤍 pic.twitter.com/ufaHBNZMrd
— Andrew Jerell Jones, Luke 1:37 (IG:twdbk3) (@sluggahjells) October 16, 2023
The fifth-year veteran is in his first season with the Bills after spending his first four seasons with the Patriots. He has put up 93 rushing yards on 22 attempts with one touchdown this season, averaging 4.2 yards per carry.
Harris started in 34 games with the Patriots, with his best season coming in 2021 as he racked up 202 carries for 929 rushing yards and 15 rushing touchdowns, averaging 4.4 yards per carry.
During his four years with the Patriots, Harris totaled 449 carries, 2,094 rushing yards, 20 rushing touchdowns, and averaged 4.7 yards per carry. He signed a one-year, $1,770,000 contract with the Bills last spring.