Vikings news: Kene Nwangwu signs with Saints, Lewis Cine to Jets

Former Minnesota Vikings Kene Nwangwu and Lewis Cine have found new homes with other teams on Wednesday.

Multiple reports confirm that Nwangwu was claimed by the New Orleans Saints and Cine has been claimed by the New York Jets.

Nwangwu, a tailback and kickoff returner, has spent the past three seasons in Minnesota. He earned a second-team All-Pro honor in 2022 and has three career kickoff returns for touchdowns.

Related: Vikings final roster cuts: RB Kene Nwangwu, CB Duke Shelley among those let go

Nwangwu also reunites with former Vikings offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. The two spent time together in 2021 during Nwangwu's rookie season.

The Vikings will likely go with backup running back Ty Chandler and wide receiver Brandon Powell at the kick returning position following Nwangwu's exit.

Cine, a former first-round pick by the Vikings in the 2022 NFL Draft, is heading to the Jets after a disappointing two seasons in Minnesota.

The safety only played in 10 games (118 total snaps) and recorded one tackle in regular season play.

Related: Minnesota Vikings announce initial roster after final wave of cuts

It would've been a longshot for Cine to make the 2024 Vikings roster, as other free safeties on the team like Camryn Bynum and Theo Jackson rank ahead of him.

He began his rookie season as a back-end-of-roster rotational defender and special teams player but his season was cut short early, as he suffered a serious lower-leg injury during a punt coverage play against the New Orleans Saints in Week 4.

Two surgeries later, Cine came back to a team that had a new defensive coordinator and system in place, as Ed Donatell was fired and replaced by Brian Flores.

Flores' scheme differed from Donatell's as it focused on a more attack-first approach by blitzing safeties frequently. In contrast, Cine was drafted to play a deep safety role under Donatell.

A combination of injuries, poor play and a scheme that doesn't fit has brought Cine to this point in his young career, as he's only 24.

While the Vikings won't face the Saints in the regular season this year, they have a game against the Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Oct. 6. However. there's go guarantee Cine plays against his former team.