After Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest on the field, US President Joe Biden encouraged the parents of the Buffalo Bills football pro.
"I spoke extensively with his mother and father," Biden said after the conversation, calling football a "dangerous" sport: "We just have to acknowledge it."
Meanwhile, Hamlin's health has improved somewhat.
"Damar remains in critical condition in intensive care, with signs of improvement seen yesterday and overnight," the Bills said in a statement.
The 24-year-old is expected to remain in intensive care and be continuously "monitored and treated" by the medical team.
"Positive direction"
His friend and marketing advisor Jordon Rooney was cautiously optimistic.
"Things are moving in a positive direction at the moment," he said.
Meanwhile, the Bills trained again Wednesday to prepare for Sunday's final game of the regular season against the New England Patriots.
"We all deal with it in different ways," said offensive tackle Dion Dawkins.
It is still unclear whether the game will actually take place.
Hamlin collided with an opponent in the first quarter of Monday's game at the Cincinnati Bengals.
After initially getting up under his own power, he collapsed on the field.
After half an hour of on-site treatment, Hamlin was taken to the hospital and placed in an induced coma.
The game was initially interrupted for an hour and then stopped completely.