Rookie safety Lewis Cine's NFL debut will have to wait. NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported that an aggravated knee will keep him out Week 1 against the Packers.
The #Vikings’ first-round draft pick, safety Lewis Cine, won’t play in today’s opener against the #Packers because of the knee issue he aggravated this week, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 11, 2022
I'm told it’s nothing major for Cine – he just missed too much practice. Expect him to make his debut Week 2.
The Gerorgia Bulldog was taken 32nd overall in the 2022 NFL Draft by Minnesota, and will look to be an added piece to a secondary that includes Harrison Smith, Patrick Peterson and fellow rookie Andrew Booth, Jr. With Cine out, Camryn Bynum will get the nod to start along Smith as Minnesota's safeties.
With the rest of the season still in play, it's wise for the Vikings to rest Cine Week 1 despite having a key divisional matchup. They can't risk further injury for Cine to compromise the season, and will lean on the veteran secondary and newly added pass rush of OLB Jordan Hicks and former Packer Za'Darius Smith to get the job done.
The Vikings will face the Packers at 4:25 ET with coverage set to take place on Fox.
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