When Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin posted on social media for the first time since suffering cardiac arrest during an NFL game on Monday, he thanked fans for their “overwhelming” support.
The Bills have said Hamlin, 24, is making “continued progress” yet remains in a “critical condition”.
In the first game since Hamlin’s collapse, the Las Vegas Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs showed their support.
During warm-ups, players wore ‘Love for Damar 3’ t-shirts.
On Instagram, Hamlin, who collapsed on the field during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals, wrote: “When you put genuine love into the world, it comes back to you threefold.
“The outpouring of love has been overwhelming, but I am grateful to everyone who has prayed for me and reached out.
“If you know me, you know that this will only make me stronger. On a long journey – please keep me in your prayers.”
Before their final regular-season game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Saturday, Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes wore a top with a graphic of a Bills player and the words ‘Hamlin strong’ written on it.
Hamlin’s name and number – three – were displayed on screens inside and outside the stadium, and the ‘3’ on the 30-yard line was painted blue to match the Bills’ colors.