Head coach DeMeco Ryans and the Houston Texans are trying to sort through various injuries to different players and several positions, and their latest resulted in a reunion with former Detroit Lions draft pick and wide receiver Quintez Cephus in free agency during training camp.
Cephus, 27, was the No. 166 overall pick of the 2020 draft.
“We have signed Quintez Cephus and made another roster move,” the Texans announced in a post on X on August 6.
Cephus has caught 37 passes for 568 yards and 4 touchdowns in his career. He has not appeared in a regular-season game since the 2022 season, but Cephus has spent time with the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, and San Francisco 49ers in addition to the Lions and Texans.
He sported a 20-349-2 line with the Lions as a rookie.
The Texans are deep at wide receiver, but Cephus has good size and has produced when called upon.
Quintez Cephus Facing Stiff Competition for Texans Roster Spot
For the Texans, Cephus joins a group headlined by Nico Collins and Tank Dell (when he gets healthy), with newcomers in rookie Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel already making waves.
Cephus was activated and waived by the Rams this offseason before joining the 49ers.
The 49ers released Cephus less than one week later, replacing him on the roster with cornerback Eli Apple.
Cephus will also have to overcome fellow veteran Justin Watson and young contributor Xavier Hutchinson, among others, if he is to make the Texans’ roster. A spot on the Texans’ practice squad could be more likely for Cephus, and it could still prove challenging to earn.
“What’s the wide receiver pecking order?” The Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan M. Alexander wrote in response to a fan’s question on August 6. “In my opinion, the current pecking order is Nico Collins, Christian Kirk, Jayden Higgins, Jaylin Noel, Xavier Hutchinson, Justin Watson, John Metchie and Braxton Berrios.”
Young WR Pays Price to Quintez Cephus
The Texans’ other roster move was waiving 2022 undrafted free agent wideout Johnny Johnson III, who was entering his third season with the club. He has never caught a pass in a regular-season game, but he has seen the field in two contests, one each in 2022 and 2023.
Johnson, who received an “injured” designation, has logged 13 career snaps on offense and saw five on special teams in 2024, per Pro Football Reference.
Johnson is the second young special teams contributor the Texans have parted with recently.
The Texans also waived 2023 UDFA Jared Wayne, who got 40 snaps on offense and 24 on special teams in 2024, per PFR. Cephus will try to avoid being one of the players on the chopping block when the Texans decide who stays and who goes when the time comes.
Cephus and the Texans will open the 2025 preseason on the road against the Minnesota Vikings on August 9.
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