National Football League

Bills RB Damien Harris reportedly out of hospital, will be 'fine' after neck injury

Updated Oct. 16, 2023 2:09 p.m. ET

Buffalo Bills running back Damien Harris is out of the hospital and is still suffering from neck pain but "is going to be fine," according to ESPN. Harris suffered a neck injury in the second quarter of Sunday night’s game against the New York Giants and was taken by ambulance to a hospital for additional testing, the team said.

The Bills said soon after that Harris did retain movement in his arms and legs.

Harris flashed a thumbs up sign with his left hand as he was being loaded into the ambulance. He lay still on his back on the turf for several minutes after being tackled by linebacker Bobby Okereke on a 1-yard gain up the middle to convert a third-and-1 situation.

Harris’ helmet appeared to hit Okereke squarely in the left shoulder. The game was delayed for about five minutes while players from both teams gathered around him on the field.

Bills trainers and medical staff rushed from the sideline to attend to Harris before a hushed sold-out crowd at Highmark Stadium. Bills players watched with concerned looks on their faces with lingering memories of Buffalo safety Damar Hamlin’s near-death experience in January after making what appeared to be a routine tackle.

Hamlin, however, required CPR in needing to be resuscitated on the field after going into cardiac arrest during the first quarter of a game in Cincinnati on Jan. 2. Harris did not require CPR and was loaded on a board and immobilized.

A cheer went up when Harris gave a "thumbs up" signal before being loaded into the ambulance.

The 26-year-old Harris is a fifth-year player who spent his first four seasons with New England before signing with the Bills in free agency this offseason.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.