After suffering a string of injuries so wide-ranging and consistently disappointing that it has called the entire season into question following a 0-2 start, the Los Angeles Rams have further fortified their roster following injuries to Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, signing ex-Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus to their practice squad ahead of a pivotal Week 3 match against the San Francisco 49ers.
Initially drafted in the fifth round out of Wisconsin, Cephus played his first three seasons in the NFL as a member of the Lions – catching his first-ever touchdown pass from Matthew Stafford in 2020 – but was consistently met with one issue after another as a pro, landing on IR in October of 2021 and October of 2022 before being suspended indefinitely in 2023 for gambling.
From there, he signed with the Buffalo Bills after being reinstated in 2024, being released in May before signing with the Houston Texans in July before once more being released in August. Now afforded a chance to not only compete but potentially contribute once more alongside his former Lions quarterback, it will be interesting to see if Cephus can finally put it all together and look like a star in Los Angeles or if he will be nothing more than a stopgap on a team looking for an identity.
Quintez Cephus brings more than a sub-par40 time to the Rams
Back in Detroit, Stafford and Cephus actually formed a pretty good connection for the Lions, as despite his issues staying on the field, the duo were dynamite on it, with the Wisconsin product averaging 15.4 yards per reception despite not fitting the traditional athletic profile of a deep threat, while catching a pair of touchdowns in each of his first two seasons. …