Buffalo Bills player suffers cardiac arrest after hit, hospitalized in critical condition

Buffalo Bills cornerback Damar Hamlin collapsed Monday night in the middle of a NFL game against the Cincinnati Bengals and was hospitalized in critical condition after receiving CPR on the field.

The Bills said early Tuesday that Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest and was hospitalized in critical condition.

The NFL took the unprecedented action of suspending the game for the evening, acknowledging the severity of Hamlin's injury.

"Hamlin received immediate medical attention on the field by team and independent medical staff and local paramedics," the NFL said in a statement. "He was then transported to a local hospital where he is in critical condition.

"Our thoughts are with Damar and the Buffalo Bills," it added. "We will provide more information as it becomes available. The NFL has been in constant communication with the NFL Players Association which is in agreement with postponing the game."

Hamlin appears to have sustained the injury after tackling the Bengals' Tee Higgins. He initially stood up after making the tackle, then quickly collapsed. He was rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center after an ambulance removed him from the stadium.

He is in his second season with the Bills.