NFL Player Waived After Pericarditis Diagnosis

The Denver Broncos waived wide receiver KJ Hamler with a non-football illness designation.

“The move was made official Monday, per the transaction wire,” NFL.com reports.

NFL Network Insider Mike Garafolo reported that “the transaction is procedural and designed with an eye toward bringing him back.”

“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 on Instagram.

“Hamler posted on Instagram that he felt chest pains while working out and was diagnosed with pericarditis, a mild heart irritation. He's currently undergoing treatment.” pic.twitter.com/PrK7FwBxBA

— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) July 31, 2023

From Hamler’s Instagram:

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.

I will be back on the field—better and stronger than ever—as soon as possible this season! I feel great physically and this is very frustrating for me to deal with. I know most of you have heard or know of my story and these past few years what I’ve been going through on and off the field.

It’s tough to deal with this when I was ready for a breakout year, but adversity is nothing new to me. I have been through hell and back, but it’s hard to reach paradise if you don’t go through hell first.

I’ll get past this just like everything else on this journey! I will continue to elevate. I forever stand on business.

This is not a farewell, this is not a good bye, this is a see you soon as I take a break for my health.

I’m so grateful for my teammates & coaches. Appreciate the support from the Broncos Country and encouragement I have been receiving. This is something to bring awareness to anybody. So anyone with chest pains please get checked out by your doctor!

NFL.com writes:

A 2020 second-round pick, Hamler has battled injuries, appearing in 10 games the past two years. He suffered a season-ending ACL tear in 2021 during Week 3. In 2022 he caught seven passes for 165 yards through seven games before a hamstring injury knocked him out for the final nine weeks. Earlier this spring, he underwent surgery for a partially torn pectoral muscle.

Now he’s dealing with a heart condition.

The news of Hamler’s release came after fellow Broncos wideout Tim Patrick suffered an apparent Achilles injury in practice Monday.

With the Broncos in need of a roster spot with Hamler and Patrick sidelined, waiving Hamler — instead of putting him on the reserve/non-football injury list, which would have knocked him out for the year — keeps open the possibility of his return this season.

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Hope you recover quickly, @Kj_hamler pic.twitter.com/9FoyDgPBuJ

— Alex Berenson (@AlexBerenson) July 31, 2023

From 9News in 2021:

KJ Hamler missed the first padded practice of the season Tuesday after the Broncos’ speedy second-year receiver was placed in COVID-19 protocols, an NFL source told 9NEWS.

It’s unclear what the reason was Hamler being placed in the virus protocol as Broncos head coach Vic Fangio said, “he could be back here tomorrow.”

Hamler, who was having a nice camp, told reporters last week he had received both vaccination shots but was not yet 14 days clear of the second shot.

In related news, veteran wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, who is entering his 10th season in the NFL, will miss the start of training camp due to blood clots in his legs and lungs.