Just as the first training camp footage began to surface and the anticipation for the upcoming NFL season began to build, one player’s season came to an abrupt halt.
And while that may not be a particularly rare occurrence in the dangerous world of professional football, this player’s cardiac condition was extremely rare for the sport.
KJ Hamler, a wide receiver for the Denver Broncos, announced on Instagram that his season would be placed on hold while he addressed the cause of his recent “chest pains.”
“After feeling some chest pains while working out on the break before camp started, I got everything checked out and was diagnosed with mild heart irritation, called pericarditis,” Hamler posted. “I’ve got a great treatment plan with medicine and am taking a quick break to get this all taken care of so I can get back to doing what I love.”
Hamler added that it was “tough to deal with this” because he was “ready for a breakout year.”
The 24-year-old receiver also reminded “anyone with chest pains” to “get checked out by your doctor.”
The Denver Broncos deemed the juvenile receiver’s pericarditis diagnosis significant enough to waive him, despite the fact that Hamler appeared optimistic or at least comparatively indifferent about it.
In what Mike Klis of KUSA describes as a “procedural move,” it appears inevitable that Hamler will return to the Broncos or another team this season:
In a procedural move, KJ Hamler will appear on today’s wire as waived/non-football illness. However, the door is open for his return to the Broncos or any team early this season.
His heart treatment is via medicine, not thru a surgical procedure. #9sports— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) July 31, 2023
“In a procedural move, KJ Hamler will appear on today’s wire as waived/non-football illness. However, the door is open for his return to the Broncos or any team early this season,” Klis posted to X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
Klis added that Hamler’s treatment would be “via medicine” and not via “surgical procedure.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, pericarditis is generally very treatable, but complications can lead to complications such as fluid accumulation and fibrosis of cardiac tissue. Additionally, pressure buildup can result in life-threatening complications.
Hamler’s prognosis is significantly better than that of fellow Broncos receiver Tim Patrick, who, according to Klis, has suffered a wholly ruptured Achilles tendon that has rendered him out for the entire season.
Per source, MRI revealed Tim Patrick suffered a complete tear of Achilles. Out for year again. Awful. #9sports
— Mike Klis (@mikeklis) July 31, 2023
In addition to these injuries, the Broncos are already dealing with a great deal of off-field turmoil, as new head coach Sean Payton recently engaged in a verbal altercation with the New York Jets.
Sean Payton also took a shot at the #Jets. He says the only wining they're going to have is in the offseason.
“We’re not doing any of that. The Jets did that this year. You watch. 'Hard Knocks,' all of it. I can see it coming."
Broncos vs. Jets in Week 5. 🍿🍿 https://t.co/TLpH4bguxJ
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) July 27, 2023
Jets head coach Robert Saleh and new quarterback Aaron Rodgers responded swiftly to Payton’s disparaging remarks about the team, setting the scene for an early must-see matchup between the already-injured Broncos and the Jets in Week 5 of the upcoming season.