During his sophomore season, Cephus caught thirty passes and had his first career collegiate 100-yard receiving game, against Purdue.[1] However, a broken leg, sustained against Indiana on November 4, sidelined Cephus for the rest of the season and required surgery.[4]
After Cephus missed his junior season due to pending legal charges, the NCAA cleared him to play on August 23, 2019.[5] After being expelled and reinstated by the school, Cephus said he returned to the football team because unlike others at the school, the football team never stopped supporting him.[6] Cephus was noted for his ability to separate from defenders on the field of play during his senior season.[7]
On January 6, 2020, Cephus declared for the 2020 NFL draft. The move came after Cephus led the 2019 Badgers team in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.[8] He also participated in the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, where he drew praise from other players at the Combine.[9]
Cephus was selected at in the fifth round with the 166th overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions.[12] The Lions previously acquired the selection used on Cephus as a result of the trade that sent cornerback Darius Slay to the Philadelphia Eagles. On July 13, 2020, the Lions signed Cephus to a four-year contract.[13] In Week 13, against the Chicago Bears, he scored his first professional touchdown on a 49-yard reception from quarterback Matthew Stafford.[14]
On October 12, 2021, Cephus was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.[15]
On October 8, 2022, Cephus was once again placed on injured reserve.[16]
On April 21, 2023, Cephus was suspended indefinitely (at least one season) after it was discovered he had violated the league’s gambling policy by betting on NFL games. He was subsequently released by the Lions following the incident.[17][18]
On April 18, 2024, Cephus was reinstated by the NFL.[19]
Buffalo Bills
On April 29, 2024, Cephus signed a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills, but was released on May 16.[20][21]
Houston Texans
On July 18, 2024, Cephus signed with the Houston Texans.[22] He was released on August 27.[23]
Los Angeles Rams
On September 18, 2024, Cephus was signed to the Los Angeles Rams practice squad.
In the early morning hours of April 22, 2018, Cephus engaged in sexual acts with two women. Cephus claimed the acts were consensual, but the women claimed that they were too drunk to give consent legally and that Cephus sexually assaulted them.[24] Later that day, the Dane County Sheriff's Department searched Cephus' apartment, and in August, Cephus was suspended from the Badgers football team.[25] Also in August, Cephus was formally charged with second- and third-degree counts of sexual assault of an intoxicated victim.[26]
On October 9, Cephus sued the University of Wisconsin-Madison in federal court, stating that the university's Title IX investigation, occurring simultaneously with the Dane County investigation, deprived Cephus of due process relating to the Fifth Amendment.[27] Also in October, Cephus entered a not guilty plea, with a trial set for February, although that was later delayed to August.[28] During spring of 2019, Cephus left the University of Wisconsin-Madison.[29] It was later revealed that he was expelled by the school.[6] In March 2019, Cephus dropped his lawsuit against the university.[24]
On August 2, Cephus was acquitted on both counts.[30][31] UW later re-admitted Cephus as a student before the 2019 fall semester, citing new information in their investigation.[24]
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