Welcome to the beginning of our 2023 season preview content!
Over the next few weeks, we will be looking at each player on the 90-man roster in-depth with backgrounds and how they currently project forward on the Minnesota Vikings roster.
What is the best-case scenario? What is the worst-case scenario? What should we expect from them during the preseason and beyond? We will break all of that down here.
As a staff, all of us at Vikings Wire ranked the entire 90-man roster 1-90 and will be releasing player profiles in reverse order.
Background
Name: Lewis Cine
Rank: 27
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 200 lbs
Experience: 2nd year
College: Georgia
Stats (In NFL): 3 games
Votes:
Tyler Forness: 29
Kevin Fielder: 28
Judd Zulgad: 28
Saivion Mixson: 28
Average: 28.25
Best case scenario
Cine becomes the player that the Vikings drafted him to be in the first round of 2022. He only played three games in 2022 before suffering a compound fracture in his ankle. Now that he’s healthy, Cine is in a better situation with Brian Flores as defensive coordinator. He has the speed and skill set to thrive in multiple roles in Flores’ aggressive scheme.
Worst case scenario
The injury to Cine from 2022 stunts his growth and prevents him from taking a step forward. That type of injury has ended careers before and a return one year later could limit his speed. A subpar year two for Cine would be a stain on the early returns of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s tenure as general manager.
What to expect in 2023
Cine has been slowly rotating in with the two’s in minicamp, but Josh Metellus got the looks with the three safety package, not Cine. That says he’s at best fourth on the depth chart right now. Not a great start for Cine and the Vikings. Throughout the season, expect Cine to be integrated more and more into the defense and potentially earn a starting role over Cam Bynum.
Previous player profiles
90-Garett Maag
89-Jack Podlesny
88-Zach Ojile
87-NaJee Thompson
86-Thayer Thomas
85-Sam Schluter
84-Jaelyn Williams
83-Jacky Chen
82-Cephus Johnson III
81-C.J. Coldon Jr.
80-Junior Aho
79-Malik Knowles
78-Abraham Beauplan
77-Wilson Huber
76-Lucky Jackson
75-Andre Carter II
74-Curtis Weaver
73-T.J. Smith
72-Alan Ali
71-Josh Sokol
70-Blake Proehl
69-John Reid
68-Trishton Jackson
67-Kalon Barnes
66-Benton Whitley
65-Calvin Avery
64-Theo Jackson
63-William Kwenkeu
62-Sheldon Day
61-Tay Gowan
60-Ross Blacklock
59-Vederian Lowe
58-Jaren Hall
57-Nick Muse
56-Ivan Pace, Jr
55-Jalen Reagor
54-Luiji Vilain
53-Austin Schlottmann
52-Troy Dye
51-Olisaemeka Udoh
50-Nick Mullens
49-Kene Nwangwu
48-DeWayne McBride
47-Jaquelin Roy
46-Jay Ward
45-Brandon Powell
44-Troy Reeder
43-James Lynch
42-Greg Joseph
41-Johnny Mundt
40-Blake Brandel
39-Mekhi Blackmon
38-Chris Reed
37-Joejuan Williams
36-Ryan Wright
35-Esezi Otomewo
34-Jalen Nailor
33-Ty Chandler
32-Jonathan Bullard
31-D.J. Wonnum
30-Patrick Jones II
29-Andrew DePaola
28-Ed Ingram
