Lewis Cine, a former first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings, will reportedly sign with the Buffalo Bills practice squad.
After initially deciding on the Jets following his release from the Vikings, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported the former Georgia safety had a change of heart. He’ll head further up in the state of New York.
“Plot twist: Former #Vikings first-round S Lewis Cine is expected to sign with the #Bills’ practice squad, sources tell me and Ian Rapoport,” Garafolo wrote on Twitter. “Cine, who is headed to Buffalo now, had initially leaned toward the #Jets but opts to go elsewhere in the AFC East.”
Previously, Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was complimentary of Cine.
“I think every NFL player goes on a journey regardless of where they’re selected in the draft,” O’Connell said about Cine last week, per Sports Illustrated. “Year 1, the injury was significant and it was significant because it took away time on the grass for Lew just to get comfortable in an NFL defense regardless of the scheme. Has a change of scheme from Year 1 to Year 2 and then working his way back at the same time from that injury.
“I think it was always going to take some time and moments like Saturday and seeing him put two good days of practice at Cleveland on the books and then come out and play the way he did, I think it’s a great of example of Lew continuing to work at it every single day and constantly chasing improvement and it showed up.”
After the standout performance against the Browns, Cine said he can do that consistently if he’s not battling injuries. “I think that happens when I’m healthy,” Cine said, per Yahoo Sports. I’ve worked on the things I need to work on. Keying in on the defense and everything. Just have fun with it and not think.”
