The Vikings are leaving London with a win but without rookie safety Lewis Cine, who will stay in the U.K. to undergo surgery.
Cine suffered a significant lower-leg fracture on the punt return team late in the first quarter.
He remained on the field for some time while Vikings training and medical staff attended to him, applied an air cast and carted him off the field.
Vikings cornerback Patrick Peterson spoke with media members following the 28-25 victory at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
"We just said our prayers and told him to hang in there as he was getting carted off the field," Peterson said. "I didn't know how severe the injury was until Harry (Harrison Smith) told me that – I don't even want to talk about it. But it was pretty bad.
"I just hope that Lewis continues to stay strong and knows that his brothers are here, and we have his back," he added.
Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell got emotional while updating reporters on Cine's condition postgame.
"Very tough moment for our team – and obviously for a guy who, since Day 1, has been a personal favorite of mine," O'Connell said. "And done everything we'd asked, and was continuing to progress in his rookie year, really having a dynamic role for us on [special] teams.
"He did have a lower-leg fracture, and we got him the immediate care at a local hospital," he continued. "From everything that I've been told, the care – obviously the local folks here have been phenomenal with Lew. He will be having surgery to fix that here."
O'Connell said members of the Vikings medical staff will stay in London with Cine, who will return to the Twin Cities "as soon as he's able" from a medical standpoint.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins, receiver Adam Thielen and other Vikings expressed concern for Cine and said their prayers will be with him as he remains in the U.K.
Cornerback Kris Boyd was near Cine when he was injured.
"Me and him were together. I had tried to make a play, and when I ran up and seen him, I saw his leg had been broken, and it kind of put me into shock," Boyd said. "I should have sat there with him and just let him know I was there for him. But I definitely stayed on that field. In my head, all I could think was, 'I've gotta make a play for him.' Literally, after I saw that, it was in my head: 'Make a play for [No.] 6. And it came."
Boyd in the third quarter recovered a fumble he helped force by the Saints punt return team.
"I love Lew like a brother," Boyd added. "Prayers up for him. … I know one thing about Lew, and he's going to give it his all."
