Who Should I Start? Mecole Hardman or Quintez Cephus

Friday, January 16, 4:45 PM

The Buffalo Bills announced on Friday that they elevated wide receiver Mecole Hardman from the practice squad to the active 53-man roster for Saturday's Divisional Round game against the hosting Denver Broncos. The team also elevated running back Frank Gore Jr. from the practice squad. Hardman will give Buffalo extra receiver depth after Gabe Davis (knee) and Tyrell Shavers (knee) both tore their ACLs in last Sunday's win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Wild-Card round of the playoffs. Joshua Palmer (ankle) is also on Injured Reserve for the Bills, so their depth at the WR position behind Khalil Shakir will be tested in Denver. The 27-year-old Hardman is unlikely to have a big role on offense this weekend against a tough defense. In just two regular-season games in 2025, he had one target and no receptions.

Sunday, August 24, 8:45 AM

Houston Texans wide receiver Quintez Cephus finished the preseason on a high note, catching four of his seven targets for 51 yards and a touchdown against his former team, the Lions. Cephus' six-yard touchdown catch from Graham Mertz put the Texans ahead 16-7 just before halftime, and they went on to win 26-7. The Texans did not play starting quarterback C.J. Stroud or primary backup Davis Mills, but Cephus looked productive playing with rookie Graham Mertz. Cephus was a fifth-round pick of the Lions in 2020 and played three seasons in Detroit. He missed a season due to a suspension for violating the league's gambling policy and has since spent time with the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Texans. He doesn't look likely to end up on the Texans' final roster, but he probably showed enough to get a look from another NFL team or at least end up on a practice squad somewhere.