Minnesota Vikings make cuts for 53-man roster deadline, including 1st-round pick Lewis Cine
EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings have announced a wave of cuts to comply with the 53-man roster deadline Tuesday. Among those released from the team is a 2022 first-round pick.
The deadline to get the roster down to 53 players was 3 p.m. Even after the deadline, the Vikings' roster will likely change as they scour the waivers for players cut by other teams.
One of the most notable names to be waived by Minnesota is safety Lewis Cine. He was Kwesi Adofo-Mensah's first draft pick as the Vikings' general manager. Cine was injured in his rookie season and since then has failed to impress in a deep safety room.
The team has also waived running back Kene Nwangwu, a fourth-round pick in 2021 who proved to be an explosive kick returner and showed flashes as a running back during the preseason, including a 48-yard touchdown run against the Las Vegas Raiders.
The NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported earlier Tuesday that the Vikings would move on from Nwangu and defensive tackle Jaquelin Roy, but would try to trade both before cutting them. Roy was confirmed among the cuts by the team.
The team also released veteran running back Myles Gaskin and defensive back Bobby McCain.
Second-year pass rusher Andre Carter II and veteran defensive tackle James Lynch are also chopping block casualties.
A couple of preseason darlings — seventh-round pick defensive tackle Levi Drake Rodriguez and undrafted free agent cornerback Dwight McGlothern — are still with the team as of Tuesday.
Injured players
The Vikings left starting tight end T.J. Hockenson on the physically unable-to-perform list.
Outside linebacker Gabriel Murphy, another undrafted free agent who has shown promise, has been placed on the injured reserve with a designation for return, as well as guard Dalton Risner.
Linebacker Jordan Kunaszyk was placed on injured reserve.
Full list of cut players on Tuesday
Waived:
- S Lewis Cine
- RB Kene Nwangwu
- CB Nahshon Wright
- OLB Andre Carter II
- OL Henry Byrd
- G Tyrese Robinson
- WR Lucky Jackson
- WR Jeshaun Jones
- WR Thayer Thomas
- DL Jaquelin Roy
- LB Dallas Gant
- OLB Bo Richter
Terminated contract:
- TE N'Keal Harry
- CB Duke Shelley
- RB Myles Gaskin
- DB Bobby McCain
- DL James Lynch
- TE Robert Tonyan
- DL Jonah Williams
Waived with injury designation:
- WR Malik Knowles
The Vikings made their first round of cuts Monday, with few surprises. Running backs DeWayne McBride and Mo Ibrahim were axed, along with depth quarterback Matt Corral and several undrafted free agents.
The Vikings start the season on the road against the New York Giants on Sept. 8, led by quarterback Sam Darnold. Rookie QB J.J. McCarthy's debut will have to wait until 2025 after he suffered a torn meniscus in the preseason.
Before cutdown day, the Vikings made several notable moves this offseason. Aside from drafting McCarthy, they also traded up to get pass rusher Dallas Turner in the first round. They then signed wide receiver Justin Jefferson and left tackle Christian Darrisaw to massive contract extensions. The defense also got an overhaul with several free agent signings, the most recent of which was former Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore.
