More than seven months had passed since Damar Hamlin had last taken a snap in an NFL game, on Jan. 2.

That night, the Bills safety suffered cardiac arrest, collapsed on the field in Cincinnati and then captivated fans — and the country — with his incredible recovery. 

It was all about staying “in the moment,” Hamlin told reporters earlier this week.

He focused on the day-by-day improvements that started stacking together to make the unthinkable goal of an NFL return seem plausible. 

He checked off the next step in his journey back on Saturday by playing in Buffalo’s preseason opener against the Colts in Orchard Park, N.Y. Hamlin didn’t start, but he entered during the Bills’ second defensive series and he even ended that drive with a fourth-and-1 tackle to force a turnover on downs. 

Hamlin made two additional tackles and blitzed on the next possession, too, finishing the opening half with three solo tackles.

“Yeah, man, it felt good. It for surely felt like a little weight off my shoulders,” Hamlin said following Buffalo’s 23-19 preseason-opening win. “Amazing. It just makes me feel like I’m back in that element.”

That aligned with what head coach Sean McDermott told the Associated Press entering the game: Hamlin was scheduled to play, though the extent and the exact moment were unknown. 

But any return, any snaps during any game, would mark substantial progress for the 25-year-old, considering what happened when he attempted to tackle Tee Higgins on “Monday Night Football” in that game against the Bengals this past January.

“What we just witnessed, to me, is remarkable,” McDermott said after the game. “It’s a true sign of a young man’s courage and obviously everyone who helped him to get to this point. I know there was a football game going out there today, but I mean a truly remarkable display of courage and strength and faith.”

At the final whistle, Hamlin sought out his mother, Nina, in the stands and presented her his game jersey even though he had initially promised it to former teammate and now Colts receiver Isiah McKenzie.

“That first jersey back, it had to go to Mom. Dude, I had to go to her. My mom was my strength, my everything, you know, through my entire life,” Hamlin said. “But I’m for surely going to get Isaiah a jersey this season.”

McKenzie is fine with having to wait.

More important to him was seeing how far Hamlin has come.

“It was awesome to see him progressing the way he’s progressing. Out there on the field now, doing his thing and playing the game he loves to play. It felt awesome to be out there with him,” McKenzie said. “One time I was on the pile, and me and him started laughing. It was pretty cool to see him smiling and enjoying himself.”

Hamlin has come a long way since the incident when he received CPR on the field and was transported to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he remained until he was transferred to Buffalo General Medical Center/Gates Vascular Institute.

A little more than a week later, he was discharged. 

Hamlin became an advocate for CPR training, making appearances at the ESPYs and a Yankees game, but the backdrop to everything was his desire and his steps toward reuniting with his Bills teammates on the field. 

Hamlin was “fully cleared” to rejoin the team in April.

He started practicing with the Bills as offseason workouts began, building toward the start of training camp.

Padded practices became a normal occurrence again. 

If there were any lingering doubts or underlying hesitation about the physical nature of football, Hamlin responded to those concerns Saturday, putting together a preseason debut that included high-fives and embraces with trainer Denny Kellington — part of the medical team that saved Hamlin’s life on the field in Cincinnati — and wideout Stefon Diggs, according to social media posts from Highmark Stadium. 

Hamlin’s family was seated in the first row behind the Bills’ bench, according to the broadcast’s sideline reporter. 

The Bills used starting safeties Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer on their first series, which ended when cornerback Dane Jackson intercepted Colts rookie Anthony Richardson. 

Then, Hamlin checked in, and when Colts running back Evan Hull tried to dive past the line of scrimmage on fourth down, Hamlin was one of the Bills who prevented the first down. 

Saturday was different from the Bills’ last game at Highmark Stadium, on Jan. 22, when Hamlin watched their divisional-round loss to the Bengals and ventured down to the locker room at halftime. 

This time, there wasn’t any distance between Hamlin and the field.

This time, Hamlin’s contributions were the center of attention, and his recovery moved closer to completion.

— with AP