Is it time for Minnesota to give up on Lewis Cine?
Aug 20, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine (6) warms up before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Lewis Cine, the former Georgia safety, became the first draft selection under the Minnesota Vikings' new regime. However, he has struggled to leave a mark, having played in just 10 games without any starts.
As he approaches his third year, Cine faces a daunting challenge at training camp: not only competing for a safety position but also risking exclusion from the final 53-man roster.
Regarded as a defensive cornerstone, the former Bulldog has encountered challenges. Cine's struggles with injuries and underwhelming practice performances have prevented him from grabbing the attention of defensive coordinator Brian Flores and finding more playing time.
Cine entered the NFL with promise, but his trajectory shifted dramatically after a compound fracture of the tibia and fibula during his rookie season against the New Orleans Saints in London. Since then, little has been heard of Cine, with Josh Metellus and Camryn Bynum assuming significant roles in Brian Flores' defense.
Now the question remains, will he make the final 53-man roster? As training camp approaches, it's challenging to picture a situation where Cine avoids being cut or potentially traded.
The team's safety position is stacked with depth, including breakout players Metellus, Bynum and Theo Jackson, alongside the consistently high-performing All-Pro Harrison Smith, who is heading into his age 35 season.
The team has also invested in multiple draft picks to add depth to the secondary, including Jay Ward and Khyree Jackson. There are a lot of players fighting for roster spots, so it should be something worth monitoring during training camp as they won’t be able to keep everyone.
Cine is going to be facing a tough road ahead with the obstacles ahead of him if he wants to secure himself on the 53-man roster come September. If Cine isn’t traded during camp, all signs are pointing towards his time in the purple and gold coming to an end.
