Lewis Cine Sets Return Date
Dustin Baker
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Minnesota Vikings rookie safety Lewis Cine broke his leg in London two months ago, ixnaying the remainder of his first season in the NFL.
The Vikings selected Cine in the 1st Round of the 2022 NFL Draft after a controversial trade back from the 12th spot. Cine was the 32nd overall pick.
But the youngster is incredibly optimistic about his return, an exciting development as some fans wondered if he would ever play again because of the compound leg fracture. Cine told the Pioneer Press this week, “Nothing is going to keep me from playing next season.”
Presumably plotting his Vikings return next September, Cine was also critical of the stadium surface at Tottenham Hotspur, where the injury occurred. He said, “I think the odds of something happening on natural grass probably would have been lower. There were bumps when you were running on it. It felt like concrete.”
The Vikings are 3-0 in London games since the NFL began playing games across the pond.
Truth be told, the Vikings could use Cine in 2022. Minnesota ranks 32nd in passing yards allowed through 12 weeks. And while Harrison Smith and Camryn Bynum aren’t struggle merchants at safety, Cine could’ve found a way to contribute with his freakish athletic tendencies.
Cine failed to win the starting safety job over the aforementioned Bynum in training camp or the preseason. But conventional logic suggests he could’ve overtaken the gig at some point in 2022. Before the leg fracture, the Georgia alumnus played in 6 games as a rookie, recording 34 special teams plays and just two defensive snaps. In fact, Cine was injured on special teams, leading to his season-ending absence.
The man will be back, however. His injury was awful, rest assured, but the mystery is solved. Cine expects to be back in 2023, and the regular season kicks off 10 months from now.
Cine turned 23 in October.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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