Former Detroit Lions receiver Quintez Cephus may have reached the final stop in his career after being released early this summer by the Los Angeles Rams. The move doesn’t come as a surprise with Cephus being a contender for the practice squad or a final roster spot. However, early returns weren’t enough for the Rams to continue to retain the former Lions draft pick. Detroit selected Cephus back in the 2020 draft as a fifth-round selection. To say that his time with the franchise was uneven would be an understatement.
Things started out well for Cephus in his rookie season, catching a 49-yard touchdown from Matthew Stafford and appearing to be on his way to relevance in a depth role. This path would be changed when Cephus missed a large chunk of the next two seasons on injured reserve. Instead of spending this time working to get healthy, the receiver opted to violate the league’s gambling policy and was suspended without a set return date. Detroit responded by releasing the receiver, cutting its losses on a player who couldn’t get out of his own way.
Former Lions Draft Pick Quintez Cephus on His Way Out
#Rams waived Quintez Cephus
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) June 25, 2025
A year after being suspended, the receiver was allowed to return and joined both the Houston Texans and Buffalo Bills. It didn’t take either team long to decide there wasn’t the needed fit and move on. Both teams opted to do this before the season began, failing to give Cephus a chance to play any regular-season snaps.
Whether it is regression due to injuries and lost time due to gambling, or simply a player who lacks the needed talent, is up for debate. The 2020 season was long ago, and this was the last time it truly appeared that Cephus had a promising future in this league. Getting cut by the Rams in June is yet another sign of this and could end his time in the league.
It would be a fitting end for a player who put himself above his team and made a mistake that could have easily been avoided. It is very probable that this is it for the former Lions receiver.
