Quintez Cephus

Free Agent None
Wide Receiver #87
Free Agent None
Wide Receiver #87

Quintez Cephus News

Released by Lions

The Lions have released Cephus, NFL.com reports.

Analysis: The move follows news that Cephus has been suspended indefinitely for violating the league's gambling policy. Per Eric Woodyard of ESPN, Cephus can reapply for reinstatement after one year. The 2020 fifth-rounder is coming off a 2022 season in which a foot injury limited him to four games with Detroit, during which he caught two passes for 15 yards.

Apr 21, 2023 8:58 AM EST


Deactivated for season

Cephus (foot) was deactivated for the remainder of the season Wednesday, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com reports.

Analysis: After being designated to return from injured reserve Dec. 7, Cephus failed to be activated before the end of his 21-day window, leaving him on IR for the remainder of the year. The wide receiver will finish the 2022 campaign with two catches for 15 yards while playing in four contests.

Dec 28, 2022 9:46 AM EST



Close to return from IR

Detroit designated Cephus (foot) to return from its injured reserve list Wednesday ahead of Sunday's game versus Minnesota, Tim Twentyman of the Lions' official site reports.

Analysis: The Lions now have a 21-day practice window to activate Cephus before they would have to place him back on the injured reserve list. Once he's ready to return, the 2020 5th-rounder should work sparingly in the slot behind Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Dec 7, 2022 12:03 PM EST


Sent to IR

The Lions placed Cephus (foot) on injured reserve Saturday, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Analysis: Cephus hurt his foot in last week's game against the Seahawks. He'll need to miss at least four games while on IR, but it's uncertain how soon he could be activated since Jameson Williams (knee) is expected to be ready to play in November.

Oct 8, 2022 4:06 PM EST


Ruled out for Week 5

Cephus (foot) has been ruled out for Sunday's matchup against the Patriots.

Analysis: Cephus suffered the foot injury during the team's Week 4 loss to the Seahawks and was unable to practice ahead of Week 5, so his lack of availability for Sunday isn't surprising. DJ Chark (ankle) has also been ruled out, while Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) and Josh Reynolds (ankle) are questionable, so the Lions may be extremely limited at wideout for a second straight game, which should once again be beneficial for T.J. Hockenson.

Oct 7, 2022 2:16 PM EST



Doesn't practice again

Cephus (foot) did not practice Thursday, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Analysis: Cephus following up his DNP on Wednesday with another one Thursday leaves his availability for Sunday against the Patriots in serious doubt. The third-year wideout left Week 4's loss to the Seahawks early with the injury after catching two of three targets for 15 yards. The Lions' WR corps are banged up across the board, with Kalif Raymond and Tom Kennedy the only ones not carrying an injury designation at the moment.

Oct 6, 2022 11:06 AM EST


Sits out Wednesday

Cephus (foot) did not participate during the Lions' practice Wednesday.

Analysis: Cephus caught two of three targets for 15 yards before suffering a foot injury that sidelined him for the remainder of Sunday's loss to the Seahawks. While the exact nature and severity of this injury are still unclear, the wideout's inability to suit up during the first practice of Week 5 is a discouraging sign for his availability. If Cephus' status does not improve Thursday or Friday, then Tom Kennedy, who was signed from the practice squad Wednesday, could see increased usage in Detroit's banged-up wide receiver corps.

Oct 5, 2022 5:46 PM EST


Won't return Sunday

Cephus (foot) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game against the Seahawks.

Analysis: Cephus had an increased role to begin Sunday's matchup since Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) and DJ Chark (ankle) were both out. However, Cephus tallied just two receptions for 15 yards prior to his departure. Tom Kennedy and Maurice Alexander should see increased opportunities for the Lions down the stretch.

Oct 2, 2022 1:08 PM EST


Leaves with injury

Cephus left Sunday's game with the Seahawks early with a foot injury.

Analysis: Cephus was playing with an increased role with Amon-Ra St. Brown (ankle) and DJ Chark (ankle) both out with injuries. The third-year receiver had hauled in two catches for 15 yards before exiting. While he is out, Tom Kennedy and Maurice Alexander will likely see extra opportunities.

Oct 2, 2022 12:23 PM EST


Sees just two offensive snaps

Cephus logged two offensive snaps but did not have a target during Sunday's 38-35 loss to the Eagles.

Analysis: Cephus and Kalif Raymond only saw a handful of snaps behind Amon-Ra St. Brown, DJ Chark and Josh Reynolds. Within an offense that will also feed its running backs and tight ends in the passing game, Cephus figures to remain far off the fantasy radar while everyone is healthy.

Sep 11, 2022 5:36 PM EST


Not going anywhere

Cephus remains on the 53-man roster after Tuesday's roster deadline, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Analysis: The Lions only kept five receivers in the continued absence of Jameson Williams (knee), but Cephus will be sticking around despite missing most of the summer with an undisclosed leg injury. However, as nothing more than the No. 4 or 5 receiver on an offense that will feed its tight end and running backs, Cephus is a much longer shot for fantasy relevance this year than he was out of the gate last year.

Aug 31, 2022 6:19 AM EST


Touchdown in preseason finale

Cephus caught one of three targets for five yards and a touchdown during Sunday's 19-9 loss to the Steelers.

Analysis: Cephus made his preseason debut after missing most of the summer with an undisclosed leg injury. While he didn't earn many targets despite playing into the fourth quarter, he did well to get open for a touchdown on a broken play at the end of the game. Considering the Lions kept up to seven receivers on the roster last year, Cephus seems to have good odds of surviving roster cuts this week, especially with Jameson Williams (knee) on the PUP list.

Aug 28, 2022 5:34 PM EST


Set for preseason debut

Cephus will make his preseason debut Sunday against the Steelers, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press reports.

Analysis: Cephus suffered an undisclosed leg injury during the first week of training camp and didn't return to practice until this past week. While Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond have secured the No. 3 and 4 roles, respectively, at receiver in his absence, Cephus could make a case for the No. 5 role if he can outperform the likes of Tom Kennedy and Trinity Benson on Sunday. However, regardless of how things shake out, the looming return of Jameson Williams (knee) figures to push all of these guys down the depth chart by season's end.

Aug 27, 2022 10:43 AM EST


Remains sidelined

Cephus (leg) did not play in Saturday's preseason game against the Colts, Benjamin Raven of MLive.com reports.

Analysis: Cephus went down with an unspecified leg injury during the start of training camp, and it doesn't sound like he has made it back to the field yet. This extended delay has been bad news for his odds of sticking around in a suddenly crowded Detroit receiver room, let alone pushing Josh Reynolds for the No. 3 role at receiver while Jameson Williams (knee) returns to full health. It hasn't helped that Cephus' absence meanwhile opened snaps for Tom Kennedy to put together a highly productive preseason. If Cephus can't make it back for the preseason finale Aug. 28 against the Steelers, he may not have much of a case for a potential fifth or sixth roster spot depending on whether Williams starts the year on the PUP list.

Aug 21, 2022 12:44 PM EST


Injures leg, should be okay

Coach Dan Campbell doesn't think the leg injury Cephus suffered Tuesday is serious, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. "[Cephus] will be down for we feel like a short period of time, but I think he's going to be OK," said Campbell.

Analysis: Cephus was helped off the practice field Tuesday, slowing his momentum in what's otherwise been a strong offseason by all accounts. The 2020 fifth-round pick missed most of last season with a broken collarbone, then saw the Lions add DJ Chark and Jameson Williams (knee) this spring. Still, there's an opportunity for Cephus to win the third or fourth receiver spot to start the season, especially with Williams unlikely to be available following his ACL tear in January,

Aug 3, 2022 6:59 AM EST


Facing added competition

Cephus is facing added competition for snaps after the offseason acquisitions of DJ Chark and Jameson Williams (knee), Nick Baumgardner and Chris Burke of The Athletic report.

Analysis: After Tyrell Williams went down in Week 1 and before Cephus broke his collarbone in Week 5, the Wisconsin product had a large role that commanded at least 70 percent of the offensive snaps per game. However, the 6-foot-4 Chark seemingly fits the mold that Detroit has been looking for at "X" receiver, and Detroit traded up in the first round to add another promising perimeter receiver in Williams. With Amon-Ra St. Brown locked into the slot role, Cephus seems no higher than No. 4 or 5 on the depth chart entering 2022. However, if the Lions take a cautious approach with Williams' return from an ACL injury, the short list of candidates to take his spot in the starting lineup would be Cephus and Josh Reynolds.

May 6, 2022 2:47 PM EST


Candidate for key role in 2022

Receivers coach Antwaan Randle El spoke highly of Cephus (collarbone) when discussing how the Lions are looking for a true No. 1 guy to play the X receiver spot, Tim Twentyman of the team's official site reports. "I feel like Q was really taking some strides before he got hurt," Randle El said last week at the Senior Bowl. "You see flashes in Q for sure because Q just has this unbelievable - like he can get off the field and jump. Being able to just put it up (to him) and make a play. You see him go up one hand and be able to come down with it."

Analysis: The Lions are stocked with elite short-range weaponry but lacking on downfield targets, especially with Josh Reynolds and Kalif Raymond set to become unrestricted free agents. However, Cephus clearly impressed his coaches when healthy last season, and it seems like he could have a chance to claim the starting role at X receiver in 2022. While it's possible that a large offseason investment via the draft or free agency could prevent that from happening, Cephus at least seems likely to be a key part of the rotation going forward.

Feb 8, 2022 12:21 PM EST


Returns to injured reserve

Cephus (collarbone) was activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday and reverted to injured reserve, Justin Rogers of The Detroit News reports.

Analysis: Cephus shifted to the COVID list last week but has now cleared the health and safety protocols. The 23-year-old was placed on injured reserve and ruled out for the rest of the season after undergoing surgery for a broken collarbone in October.

Dec 29, 2021 7:40 PM EST


Moves to COVID list

Cephus (undisclosed) was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, Aaron Wilson of Sportstalk 790 Houston reports.

Analysis: Cephus was already on IR and ruled out for the season with a broken collarbone, which he suffered in the Lions' Week 5 loss to the Vikings. The second-year wideout finished his season with 15 receptions on 22 targets for 204 yards and a touchdown across 5 games.

Dec 20, 2021 6:14 PM EST


Shifts to IR

The Lions placed Cephus (collarbone) on injured reserve Tuesday.

Analysis: The transaction was fully expected after Lions head coach Dan Campbell said Monday that Cephus sustained a broken collarbone in the team's Week 5 loss to the Vikings. The injury will likely sideline Cephus for the remainder of the season, leaving an already weak Lions receiving corps in dire shape with Tyrell Williams (concussion) also expected to spend at least another week on IR. Detroit appears set to head into Sunday's game against the Bengals with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Kalif Raymond and KhaDarel Hodge as its starting wideouts.

Oct 12, 2021 12:43 PM EST


News powered by