Source: Safety Lewis Cine flips on Jets, to join Bills instead

Safety Lewis Cine has had a change of heart and will sign with the Buffalo Bills on their practice squad instead of joining the New York Jets on theirs, a source told ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Instead of heading to the Jets, he will now join their AFC East rival in Buffalo, where his former college coach, Jahmile Addae, is the defensive backs coach.

Cine, drafted 32nd overall in 2022, was waived Tuesday by the Minnesota Vikings after efforts to trade him were unsuccessful.

Cine, who suffered a leg fracture in Week 4 of his rookie season, has played only 10 defensive snaps over his first two seasons (one tackle). In the preseason, he played a team-high 150 snaps, recording 13 tackles and one sack.

Cine, 24, suffered a compound fracture of his left leg in the third game of his rookie season in 2022.

When he returned in spring 2023, he was already a step behind the scheme installed by new defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Cine played in only 10 games over that stretch, finishing his second season as the team's sixth safety.

He lost any chance he had to move up the depth chart this summer when he was slowed by a lower-body injury.

ESPN's Rich Cimini and Kevin Seifert contributed to this report.