After working together with the New York Jets on a trade earlier this week, the Buffalo Bills have pulled the carpet out from under them relating to another player.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, safety Lewis Cine is expected to sign in Buffalo. The final pick of the first round in 2022 by the Minnesota Vikings, Cine is expected to join the Bills’ practice squad:
Yeah… about that. 😜
The #Bills are actually signing former #Vikings first-round safety Lewis Cine to their practice squad, per me and @MikeGarafolo. Many thought Cine would land with the #Jets.
But he’s flying to Buffalo now, set to sign with the Bills PS. pic.twitter.com/vzARJl6yV3
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 29, 2024
Selected out of the University of Georgia, Buffalo’s new cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae likely played a part here. Addae was Cine’s positional coach in college.
According to ESPN, the Vikings were attempting to trade their former first-round selection before he was released during roster cut-down day.
Cine’s NFL issues have come thanks to injury. He suffered a leg fracture in Week 4 of his rookie season and has played only 10 defensive snaps over his first two seasons. Cine has one tackle in his career.
During the 2024 preseason, he played a team-high 150 snaps, recording 13 tackles and one sack in Minnesota.
Cine joins a safety room that’s had a changing of the guard this offseason. Following the departures of Micah Hyde and Jordan Poyer, Taylor Rapp was handed one of the Bills’ vacant openings at safety.
The other spot has been a clear open competition between Damar Hamlin, Mike Edwards and second-round rookie Cole Bishop. All three have had various injuries during the preseason and no one has taken a clear hold of the starting spot.
The team has not yet officially announced Cine’s signing. In addition, another player will need to be released to make room for Cine on the 16-man practice squad.
Bills Wire will provide updates when information is made available.
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