On Saturday afternoon, the Detroit Lions wrapped up their 2025 preseason slate against the Houston Texans.
For many players on the bubble, this was their chance to show and prove to head coach Dan Campbell, and the rest of the coaching staff that they belong on the 53-man roster, or at least the practice squad.
Some players rose to the occasion and solidified their spots, while others are likely on their way out the door.
On the other sideline, fans got to see ex-Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus, who was with the team for three years, and is now trying to earn his spot on the Texans’ 53-man roster. The Lions released Cephus in April 2023, so one has to believe he wanted to show Detroit what they were missing in the preseason finale.
Quintez Cephus burns his former team with the late handspic.twitter.com/vvO2rUcRqz
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) August 23, 2025
Ex-Lions WR Quintez Cephus Puts On a Good Performance Against Detroit
The 27-year-old receiver had four receptions (seven targets) for 51 yards and a touchdown as the Texans walked away with the 26-7 win. No Lions wide receiver had more yards or catches than Cephus.
Cephus scored his lone preseason touchdown in the second quarter as he went over the top of Lions cornerback D.J. Miller Jr. and came back down with the ball.
The veteran receiver is fighting an uphill battle to make the Texans’ 53-man roster, as their WR room is loaded, so anything he can do to stand out could go a long way in helping him maybe stick in Houston.
It’s been an interesting last couple of years for the former Lions’ fifth-round pick after they let him go in 2023. Cephus didn’t play football or sign with a team for the rest of 2023. Instead, he tried his luck in 2024, signing with the Buffalo Bills on April 30, 2024.
The Bills kept Cephus on the 90-man roster for a few weeks before ultimately parting ways on May 16, 2024. From there, the ex-Lions wide receiver signed with the Texans ahead of training camp last summer, but didn’t make the final 53-man roster.
Cephus went on to sign with the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad in mid-September and was signed to a futures deal after last season. The Rams released Cephus in late June, which then led him to the San Francisco 49ers last month.
The former Lion wasn’t there for long, leading him back to Houston. It's been a journey for the veteran wide receiver. We’ll see if his performance against Detroit will help him get back on a 53-man roster.