Bills Damar Hamlin Heavy Favorite for Comeback Player of the Year, Von Miller Joins Race

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is set to make a full recovery back to the football field, and has been cleared for on-field actives since April.

The 25-year-old suffered cardiac arrest on the field in a Week 17 matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals in January, the uncertainty was regarding the future of his life, let alone a return to football.

But with a return slated for Week 1 against the New York Jets, Hamlin is the heavy betting favorite (-752) to win the Comeback Player of the Year award, per SI Sportsbook's betting odds. The player with the second-best odds is Houston Texans receiver John Metchie (+1400), who comes in at a distant projected runner-up. He was diagnosed with leukemia prior to last season but is expected to be ready for training camp as he continues his recovery.

Essentially, this award is Hamlin's to lose. However, he's not the only Bills player that will be in the running for Comeback Player of the Year. His defensive teammate, linebacker Von Miller, has +2800 odds to win the award.

Miller, a key free agent signing ahead of the 2022 season, tore his ACL during Week 12. He still tied for the most sacks on the team last season, finishing with eight in his 11 appearances.

If the Bills want to reach the level of Super Bowl contention that they're expecting this season, Miller will have to return to the starting lineup and stay as healthy as possible throughout the campaign.

Both Miller and Hamlin will be making great comebacks in their own regard, and if both are able to stay healthy and have productive play during the season, they'll make a good case to win the award.

"Damar is prepared to come back and play," Bills general manager Brandon Beane said in April. "He is cleared, resumed full activities just like anyone else coming back from injury ... He's fully cleared, he's here and is of the mindset to come back and make his return."

With the team behind Hamlin, he's set to make a storybook return in the 2023 season. He filled in the safety role nicely for the Bills, as their secondary had seen plenty of injuries last season.

Both Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde dealt with health issues last season, and this allowed Hamlin to become a starter. He made a name for himself before the health scare and will be able to build off that on the field.

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