Bills' Damar Hamlin 'Faces Fears' in Preseason Return vs. Colts

"It was a good step in the right direction," Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin said.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has been open and honest about his nerves leading up to his return to live-game NFL action. And after making both an emotional and on-field impact during Saturday's 23-19 preseason-opening with over the Indianapolis Colts, he can now say he's confidently faced his fears.

So after doing that, what can really stand in his way?

"What a challenge, who can say they get to face their fears like this in front of the entire world," Hamlin said after the game. "It was a good step in the right direction as far as internally for myself."

Hamlin sat in the second half, but made his presence known in the first half. Along with getting time on special teams, he finished with three solo tackles on defense, gravitating toward the ball from his safety spot to make some noticeably-big hits against the Colts' running backs.

Hamlin's strong play was admittedly a result of the nerves he felt, as he said these feelings ultimately upped his performance.

"When I'm feeling those nerves, those emotions it just means I really love this, I love this," he said. "I wanna be here, I wanna play, I wanna do good, I wanna be one of the greats. ... I was feeling everything all at once,"

Despite nearly having his life be taken from him while playing the game he loves, it's clear now that Hamlin's passion for football outweighs any fears he has after suffering cardiac arrest in January.

He and the Bills will now continue a day-by-day approach ahead of the team's second preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers next Saturday.

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You can follow Zach Dimmitt on Twitter at @ZachDimmitt7

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