DETROIT — Quintez Cephus is no stranger to celebrating in the end zone at Ford Field. However, he hadn’t experienced it with a silent crowd, wearing a uniform that didn’t belong to the Detroit Lions.
The former Lions receiver returned to Detroit with the Houston Texans on Saturday for a preseason finale that saw Cephus find the end zone on a highlight contested grab over Lions cornerback D.J. Miller.
For Cephus, it was a meaningful return as he tries to earn a spot on the Texans’ 53-man roster this year.
“It felt good, man. I practice hard, every opportunity I get, and it’s great to get out here and do it on this stage in the game, especially in Detroit," Cephus told reporters after Houston’s 26-7 win. “It felt amazing to get in the end zone. It’s been a while, so just overly grateful."
Since being suspended by the NFL in April 2023 for violating the league’s gambling policy after betting on NFL games, Cephus has been trying to find his way back onto an NFL field.
Cephus was drafted by the Lions in 2020 in the fifth round and he spent three seasons in Detroit, accumulating 568 total yards and four touchdowns on 37 catches.
Injuries cut into playing time in the seasons before Cephus was suspended and he was eventually released by the Lions.
After his reinstatement in April 2024, stints with the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers and a prior training camp with the Texans never manifested any snaps for a regular-season game.
Cephus hadn’t even tasted the end zone in a game since the 2022 preseason with the Lions when he caught a last-ditch pitch from quarterback David Blough against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“For the most part, just really thankful to just be given an opportunity. It’s been a good, long journey for me and any time I get an opportunity, I’m just overly grateful for that,“ Cephus said. ”Just being here, getting to perform on this stage, it means a lot, not just for me, but for my family back home.
“We all just want an opportunity and to be able to be here and make the most of that opportunity, I left a couple plays out there for sure, but I’ll get those back, hopefully. For the most part, just overly grateful to be here and have an opportunity, especially in Detroit."
Cephus making the Texans roster is no sure thing. He only signed with the team on Aug. 6 and hadn’t caught a pass through the first two preseason games.
On Saturday, Cephus caught four passes for 51 yards and scored, grabbing the attention of the decision makers for the Texans.
“Cephus has showed up," Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. "Man, he really dialed in on learning what he needed to learn to get out there and play meaningful time. Cephus showed up in our joint practice versus the Lions, making plays and he showed up here again today in the game making plays. Cephus has done a really nice job.”
Roster cuts are coming on Tuesday and the Texans have two heavyweights at the receiver spot — including ex-Michigan standout Nico Collins — two exciting rookies and veteran talent that could earn a spot ahead of Cephus.
Cephus may not catch on with the Texans, but the opportunities haven’t dried up for the former Lion and he says he’s determined to keep making the most of them.
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