With the NFL preseason officially wrapped up, NFL organizations are starting to make their final round of cuts and one former Bulldog did not survive this wave. Safety Lewis Cine was selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings and on Tuesday it was announced that he was waived from the roster. However, on Wednesday it was announced that the New York Jets signed Cine.
Cine has battled with injuries throughout his professional career and it put the future of his NFL career into question this offseason. The former Bulldog had some impressive showings during the preseason for the Vikings, but apparently, it was not enough to maintain a spot on the roster. Given Cine being a former first-round pick and having played a pivotal role at Georgia on their historic defense in 2021, it is very likely that Cine will get a real shot with the Jets after his stint with the Vikings.
During the preseason, Cine had eight tackles, an interception and a sack. Over his career at Georgia, Cine finished with 145 total tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and two interceptions. He earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2021. Cine has proven he has all of the talent in the world when he is healthy, so with the Jets taking a chance on him as long as he remains healthy, he could very well turn into a contributor on defense.
Cine's Time With The Vikings
Cine, 24, was selected by Minnesota with the No. 32 overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, but suffered a compound fracture in his left leg in just his third NFL game, ending his rookie season. The former Georgia Bulldog then appeared in seven games last season, recording one combined tackle.
Adding Cine to the practice squad will give him a chance to develop, and the Jets obviously hope that the defensive back can become the player he was while in the college ranks.
Jets Add Another Tight End
When the Jets announced their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday night, it was a bit curious to see that only two tight ends (Tyler Conklin and Jeremy Ruckert) had made the team.
But the thought was that the Jets would scour the waiver wire to add a third tight end, and that’s exactly what they did on Wednesday, claiming Brenden Bates off waivers from the Chicago Bears.
To make room for Bates on the roster, wide receiver Jason Brownlee was waived. Brownlee appeared in seven games for the Jets last season, catching five passes for 56 yards and a touchdown.
If Brownlee clears waivers, there's a chance he could return to the Jets' practice squad.
Bates Joins The Jets
Bates, an undrafted rookie out of the University of Kentucky, was the Bears’ second-leading receiver during the preseason, hauling in six passes for 100 yards, including a 27-yarder. But the 24-year-old found himself as the odd man out in a talented and veteran Bears tight end group that includes Cole Kmet, Gerald Everett, and Marcedes Lewis.
While Bates put up some impressive numbers as a receiver during his preseason with the Bears, he was more of a blocking option at Kentucky, and that could be his route to playing time with the Jets.
The Future For Cine
According to multiple reports, Cine will be signing to the Jets’ practice squad after being released by the Vikings on Tuesday. The Jets also claimed tight end Brendan Bates off waivers on Wednesday.
Cine was a first-round pick in 2022, but suffered a compound fracture of his leg during the fourth week of his rookie season. He required multiple surgeries and he was inactive for 10 games last season. He only played 10 defensive snaps during his time in Minnesota and was credited with one tackle.
Bates Looks To Make His Mark
Bates signed with the Bears after going undrafted out of Kentucky. Jeremy Ruckert and Tyler Conklin were the only tight ends to make the initial 53-man roster for the Jets.
The Jets are hoping that Cine can return to form and become a key player on their defense. They are also hoping that Bates can add some depth to their tight end room. It will be interesting to see how both players perform in the coming weeks.
