Coach Kevin O’Connell announced that rookie safety Lewis Cine, Minnesota Vikings, will have surgery in London to fix a broken left leg sustained during Sunday’s match against the New Orleans Saints.
Cine will stay in the United Kingdom until his doctors give clearance to fly home to Minnesota.
O’Connell cried as he revealed the details of Cine’s injury. It occurred at 1:08 in the second quarter of the Vikings’ victory 28-25. Cine was blocking a punt return and his leg became bent on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium playing field, which has been converted from grass to artificial turf.
Cine was instantly fitted with an air cast, and then taken off the field in a cart.
O’Connell stated, “Very difficult moment for our team.” “Cine is clearly a man that I have loved from Day 1. He does everything we ask. His rookie year was a great success and he played a vital role in special team work.
Cine, the Vikings first-round draft pick this year, was limited in his movement during training camp and early in the season due to a knee injury. In addition to his special-teams position, he had only played two snaps of defense.