49ers Signing WR Quintez Cephus

In correspondence, the 49ers are waiving RB Israel Abanikanda, per Matt Maiocco.

San Francisco also signed WR Equanimeous St. Brown as WR Brandon Aiyuk returns from a knee injury, while WRs Ricky Pearsall and Jacob Cowing are also dealing with injuries. 

Cephus, 27, was a three-year starter at Wisconsin before being selected by the Lions in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

He signed a four-year rookie deal worth $3,599,288 that included a signing bonus of $304,288. He was entering the final year of that deal when he was suspended indefinitely by the NFL for gambling and released by the Lions. 

The Bills signed him to a deal back in April but later opted to let him go less than a month later. He then signed with Houston in July 2024 before being let go by the team in August. The Rams signed him to the practice squad and he spent the season in Los Angeles. 

Cephus re-signed a futures deal with the Rams after the season but was waived in June. 

In 2022, Cephus appeared in four games for the Lions and caught two passes for 15 yards receiving and no touchdowns.