Lewis Cine carted off field, transported to London hospital after scary-looking leg injury

Minnesota Vikings first-rounder Lewis Cine has been transported to a local hospital in London after suffering what looks to be a serious lower-leg injury. The former Georgia star was running in the open field against the New Orleans Saints Sunday morning when his ankle seemingly snapped mid-play.

Cine’s leg was stabilized in an air cast and was carted off the field.

“Heartbreaking story here guys, rookie Lewis Cine, who went down on a special teams play, he had his leg air casted,” NFL Network sideline reporter Jamie Erdahl said. “Obviously out for the remainder of the game, he is also being transported to a local hospital for further evaluation on that injury.”

The rookie linebacker has mostly seen playing time on special teams this season, but has seen action on defense against the Eagles and Lions so far this season.

You can view video of the injury below, but be warned, it is very graphic.

WARNING: Graphic @Vikings safety Lewis Cine taken to London hospital for likely immediate surgery. Will let the video speak for itself. pic.twitter.com/wte6ICW89J

— David J. Chao – ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) October 2, 2022

Cine – a former On3 Consensus four-star recruit out of the Class of 2019 – recorded his best season with Georgia in 2021, as he tallied 73 total tackles and an interception as an anchor of the Bulldogs defense, helping capture the the first national championship for Georgia in over four decades. 

Cine finished his Georgia career with 144 total tackles and two interceptions and was named the 2022 College Football Playoff National Championship Defensive Most Valuable Player award for his stellar performance in their win over Alabama 33-18 in his final game as a Bulldog.

In the past, Cine has been compared to Anthony Harris, a former undrafted free agent out of Virginia who led the NFL in interceptions in 2019. While every team passed on Harris in the 2015 NFL Draft, he’s made a nice NFL career for himself with the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles. Over the course of his seven-year career, Harris has accumulated 356 tackles, 28 pass deflections and ten interceptions, and the Vikings expect similar production out of Cine throughout his tenure in Minnesota.