Former Detroit Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus will be looking for another NFL opportunity before 2025 training camp.
The Los Angeles Rams announced Wednesday they waived Cephus.
The 27-year-old began his career as a fifth-round pick for the Lions in the 2020 NFL Draft. In three seasons with Detroit, Cephus posted 37 catches, 568 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Cephus didn’t appear in a regular season game while with the Rams. The receiver last played in the NFL regular season during 2022.
In April 2023, the NFL indefinitely suspended Cephus for violating the league’s gambling policy by betting on NFL games. His suspension lasted one full calendar year.
Upon his suspension, the Lions released Cephus.
Los Angeles Rams Release WR Quintez Cephus
The Rams didn’t announce a corresponding move with Cephus’ release. But the team opened a roster spot on its 90-man offseason roster by waiving the receiver.
Cephus showed some promise in his three seasons with Detroit. His best statistical season was his 2020 rookie campaign when he had 20 catches for 349 yards and two touchdowns.
Over three years with the Lions, Cephus played 628 offensive snaps and lined up for 131 snaps on special teams.
Since returning from his suspension, Cephus has spent time with the Buffalo Bills, Houston Texans and Rams. He hasn’t played in a regular season game.
In 2024, the receiver lasted about two weeks with the Bills. He spent training camp and the preseason with the Texans before the team released him ahead of roster cutdown day.
Cephus joined the Rams practice squad in September. During January, he signed a futures contract for the 2025 season.
In college, Cephus posted 93 catches for 1,496 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns for Wisconsin. He was also a controversial figure while attending school.
“Cephus was suspended from the [Wisconsin football] team in August 2018 after he was charged with second- and third-degree sexual assault. Prosecutors filed the counts after two women accused him of sexually assaulting both of them in his apartment that April when they were too drunk to consent. Cephus maintained the sex was consensual and one of his accusers arranged the encounter,” the AP wrote.
“A jury acquitted Cephus of the charges [in August 2019] and Chancellor Rebecca Blank allowed him to return to school. The athletic department said he wasn’t eligible to play in games but didn’t elaborate. Wisconsin football spokesman Brian Lucas said Friday that Cephus was ineligible because he did not fulfill the NCAA’s credit requirements in the spring semester.
“The NCAA granted a waiver restoring his eligibility for the 19th-ranked Badgers, who open the season Aug. 30 at South Florida.”
In 2019 at Wisconsin, Cephus had 59 catches for 901 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
Lions WR Depth Entering 2025
There’s probably little chance Detroit has any interest in bringing back Cephus. That’s because the Lions have strong receiver depth already on their roster.
Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams, of course, sit atop of the Detroit receiver depth chart. Veterans Tim Patrick and Kalif Raymond will return to be the offense’s No. 3 and 4 receivers.
The Lions added 2025 third-round draft pick Isaac TeSlaa, along with seventh-round wideout Dominic Lovett, to the roster as well. TeSlaa averaged 19.5 yards per catch at Arkansas last season.
Detroit also has receivers Tom Kennedy, Ronnie Bell, Malik Taylor, Jakobie Keeney-James and Jackson Meeks on the offseason roster.
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