Good morning to everyone but especially to...
DAMAR HAMLIN
Damar Hamlin is home. Really home. Nine days after suffering cardiac arrest on the field against the Bengals and two days after being transferred from University of Cincinnati Medical Center to Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute, the Bills safety returned home after passing a comprehensive medical evaluation.
Hamlin, 24, will continue his rehabilitation from home and with the team's trainers and medical personnel, and the Bills are hopeful he can return to the team facility during their playoff run, which begins Sunday against the Dolphins.
Honorable mentions
And not such a good morning for...
THE MIAMI DOLPHINS AND THE BALTIMORE RAVENS
Two teams with once-promising seasons. Two quarterbacks likely heading into the offseason with major questions.
The Dolphins officially ruled out Tua Tagovailoa (concussion) for Saturday at the Bills, and Ravens star Lamar Jackson (knee) is a long shot to play against the Bengals.
Things get worse from there for both teams.
Teddy Bridgewater (knee, finger) is also hurt, meaning seventh-round rookie Skylar Thompson will be under center for Miami. For Baltimore, Tyler Huntley (right shoulder, wrist) was limited in practice after not playing in Week 18, so undrafted rookie Anthony Brown may get the call. As a result of the Miami injuries, Buffalo has soared to a 13-point favorite. It's among the largest spreads in recent playoff history.Tagovailoa has suffered at least three notable head injuries this season: a hit against the Bills that he returned from in Week 3 (but led to the NFL terminating its partnership with the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant that evaluated him), a concussion that forced him to be stretchered off four days later against the Bengals and a concussion against Green Bay on Christmas.Jackson suffered a knee sprain in Week 14 against the Broncos, but Ravens head coach John Harbaugh ruled it a "week-to-week" injury and not season-ending. That was nearly six weeks ago, though, and Jackson hasn't even practiced -- much less played -- since.
Tagovailoa and the Dolphins showed great progress this season, their first under head coach Mike McDaniel. But the QB will have played in just 36 of a possible 51 games since being drafted, and the concussion issues are concerning if not downright frightening. The Dolphins have to decide this offseason whether or not to exercise Tagovailoa's fifth-year option.
The Ravens have a much bigger decision to make: Jackson will be a free agent this offseason. It's hard to deny he's a true superstar when healthy, and the 2019 season -- when he became the youngest quarterback to win MVP (and won the award unanimously) -- proved it. It's also hard to deny health is an issue: He's missed 10 games over the past two seasons, and if the Ravens lose Sunday, he'll enter the offseason with one career playoff win.
I'm one of the biggest Jackson fans you'll find. I love his big-play ability, and his improvisation skills are second-to-none. But his fourth full season as a starter has likely come to an end, and all four have ended in disappointment.
