Vikings Preseason Game Number 2 Produced a Major Winner
The Minnesota Vikings are 2-0 in the meaningless preseason standings after coming out victorious in game two versus the Cleveland Browns after beating the Las Vegas Raiders in the previous week. With most starters on ice, it was a wonderful opportunity for the backups and depth players to make a case for a spot on the 53-man roster.
Vikings Preseason Game Number 2 Produced a Major Winner
Among those depth players who strengthened their case to be on the inside when the cutdown day arrives on August 27 is certainly wideout Trishton Jackson. He just continues to make plays regardless of who the quarterback is. Undrafted rookie Bo Richter recorded another sack and keeps impressing.
But undoubtedly, the winner of the day was safety Lewis Cine. The former first-round selection showcased why he was Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s first draft choice with various outstanding plays. His ultimate stat line was outstanding.
He was decisive and diagnosed plays with ease. The tackles are a good sign that he always found a way to be around the ball. Perhaps the most exciting fact is that he looked like a first-rounder, flying around and showing his 4.37 speed.
All of those things couldn’t be said during his 2023 preseason.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said after the game: “I thought there were some really nice performances. Lewis Cine, ten tackles, one sack and an interception. Great to see him really look comfortable out there and make some plays on the football. I felt his physicality, and the guys on the sideline were fired up to see Lew do his thing.”
Cine’s journey in the NFL has been quite fascinating, as adversity has been a constant factor. At first, he failed to claim a starting job, as the coaching staff stuck with Camryn Bynum next to Harrison Smith. Josh Metellus replaced Smith when he got hurt, not Cine.
In Week 4 of his rookie season, Cine fractured his leg, and his season was over. Once he returned to the field, everything had changed, as defensive coordinator Ed Donatell was fired, and Brian Flores was hired to replace him.
He had to learn a new defense, perhaps temporarily lost a step, and still lacked the vital instincts of a safety in last year’s preseason. Consequently, the Vikings kept him on the roster, but he was inactive in most games. He played eight defensive snaps in his sophomore season.
This offseason started with him behind the eight ball as the sixth safety, behind starters Smith, Bynum, and Metellus, as well as top backup Theo Jackson and special teamer Jay Ward. It was fair to speculate about his departure either via trade or as a cut candidate.
A few weeks later, Cine might have a real shot to stick around after exploding in his second preseason contest of the year. His first one was solid but without the splash plays. Early in training camp, Cine emphasized that he knows how important those weeks are for him and his future.
“It’s huge, it’s huge for me on a personal note,” Cine said. “I think I really gotta show out and really ball out and prove why I should be here and why I deserve to be playing in the NFL. It’s unfortunate that I broke my leg. That’s long behind me. I got the opportunity to learn the defense and not be rushed where something bad could happen again, so now I just have to use this opportunity to show that I haven’t lost a step and I’m that same Lew that you guys drafted.”
The team’s first unofficial depth chart listed him as a third-stringer.
Starters: Harrison Smith/Camryn Bynum
Backups: Josh Metellus/Theo Jackson
Third-String: Jay Ward/Lewis Cine
Fourth-String: Bobby McCain
The safety added: “I think I’m just looking forward to just balling with no thinking. I think a certain thing about being in two defenses being a safety is the mental aspect of the game and clicking. When you’re the last line of defense you gotta be on your T and be able to communicate and get in and out. I feel a lot more comfortable with me communicating with my teammates and being where I need to be.”
It remains to be seen whether the Vikings want to keep Cine on the 53-man roster when they trim the number of players in just over a week. He has shown flashes, but is that enough to warrant a third season?
At the very least, he has done enough to deserve long consideration. It didn’t look like that would be the case a few weeks earlier. It depends on coordinator Flores whether he thinks he can use the third-year defender and his mesmerizing athleticism to his advantage.
Last Year’s Breakout Viking on Pace for Another Breakout Season
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt