Damar Hamlin has been making a good recovery since his breathing tube was removed, according to reports from his team, the Buffalo Bills.
The NFL star, 24, was hospitalized on January 2 after suffering a cardiac arrest on the field following a routine tackle during the Bills' game against the Bengals in Cincinnati.
Medics had performed CPR on the field before taking the Bills' safety to hospital, where his family revealed that he had been resuscitated for a second time.
Hamlin had required ventilation which had gradually been removed, allowing him to speak to his teammates over FaceTime on Friday.
The team's official Twitter account shared: "Damar Hamlin FaceTimed into our team meeting today to talk to players and coaches. What he said to the team: 'Love you boys.'"
The Bills' head coach, Sean McDermott, added to press on Friday: "To see Damar with my own eyes, to watch the reaction in the room with the players, the staff … they stood up and clapped for him.
"It was not a long interaction, but he made a heart symbol, and said ‘I love you, boys.'"
Hamlin has been breathing on his own since the ventilation tube was removed and is said to be making a "remarkable" recovery following the ordeal.
In an earlier statement on Friday, the Bills revealed that Hamlin "continues to progress remarkably in his recovery," before adding that "his neurologic function remains intact and he has been able to talk to his family and care team."
NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe also revealed that he'd spoken to Hamlin's family and said: "They are absolutely elated this morning, emotional that he's had that breathing tube out, that he's had conversations with what they've described as his brothers.
"They said, 'Look, we cannot describe the emotion as anything other than elated.'"
Hamlin remains in intensive care at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center with his family around him, but is recovering well from the medical emergency according to doctors.
Dr Tim Pritts said in a press conference on Friday: "We would like to share that there has been substantial improvement in his condition over the past 24 hours.
"We had significant concern about him after the injury and after the event on the field and he is making substantial progress. As of this morning, he is beginning to awaken and it appears that his neurological condition and function is intact."
Dr Pritts also added that one of the sports star's first questions after being brought round on Wednesday was whether the Bills had won against the Bengals, to which the doctor responded: "The answer is yes. Damar, you won the game of life."
Following Hamlin's cardiac arrest, the NFL revealed that the Bills-Bengals games had been canceled rather than being rearranged after being put on hold following the incident.
