The New York Jets have added former Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine to their practice squad, according to a source who spoke with ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. Cine was the 32nd overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft but was waived by the Vikings on Tuesday when attempts to trade him did not materialize. After clearing waivers, he joined the Jets with the understanding that he could be elevated to the active roster once he becomes familiar with the team’s playbook.
Cine has had a challenging start to his career, having played only 10 defensive snaps in his first two seasons, recording just one tackle. However, during the preseason, he demonstrated his potential by logging a team-high 150 snaps and registering 13 tackles along with one sack.
The Jets currently have Tony Adams and Chuck Clark as their starting safeties, with Ashtyn Davis and Isaiah Oliver as backups. Oliver, typically a cornerback, switched to safety in the offseason, while Cine’s signing means he could revert to his former position of nickelback.
Additionally, the Jets have claimed tight end Brenden Bates off waivers from the Chicago Bears on the same day. Cine’s departure from the Vikings marks one of the less successful outcomes for a first-round draft pick in recent years, particularly after suffering a serious leg injury in his rookie season. Following his recovery, he was unable to keep pace with the new defensive schemes under the Vikings’ new coordinator and played in only 10 games, finishing his second season as the sixth safety on the team. A lower-body injury in the summer further hindered his chances of moving up the depth chart.