NFL will not reschedule Bills-Bengals game after Damar Hamlin cardiac arrest

The National Football League confirmed Thursday that it would not reschedule Monday night's game between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals after Bills cornerback Damar Hamlin suffered a cardiac arrest on the field, prompting the game's postponement.

Hamlin suddenly collapsed following a play in which he tackled the Bengals' Tee Higgins. He was subsequently hospitalized and is in the process of recovery. Doctors at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center say he has shown "remarkable improvement."

"This has been a very difficult week," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "We continue to focus on the recovery of Damar Hamlin and are encouraged by the improvements in his condition as well as the tremendous outpouring of support and care for Damar and his family from across the country.  We are also incredibly appreciative of the amazing work of the medical personnel and commend each and every one of them."

The league observed that cancelling the game would not affect which teams qualified for the playoffs, merely their seeding. It further contended that "cancelling the game between the Bills and Bengals creates potential competitive inequities in certain playoff scenarios," but that the league would work to mitigate them.

"I recognize that there is no perfect solution," Goodell admitted.