Detroit Lions stars Quintez Cephus and CJ Moore have been slapped with indefinite NFL suspensions alongside Washington Commanders ace Shaka Toney due to gambling violations. The trio have all been breached regulations during the 2022 season.
Wide receiver Cephus made four appearances for the Lions last season, with safety Moore featuring 11 times as their team narrowly missed out on a place in the play-offs. Defensive end Toney, meanwhile, played 16 times for the Commanders as the franchise finished bottom of NFC East.
All three players will be banned until at least the end of the 2023 season but will then be allowed to petition for reinstatement. The Lions will also be without Stanley Berryhill and Jameson Williams for their first six regular games of the season after the duo received lighter bans for gambling violations.
Berryhill and Williams will be available for the Lions’ off-season and pre-season activities, however, and will be able to play in their team’s pre-season games.
“The gambling policy, which is annually reviewed with all NFL personnel, including players, prohibits anyone in the NFL from engaging in any form of gambling in any club or league facility or venue, including the practice facility,” read an NFL statement on Friday. “A league review uncovered no evidence indicating any inside information was used or that any game was compromised in any way.”
Following news of the ban, the Lions announced that they had parted company with Cephus and Moore with immediate effect. “As a result of an NFL investigation, it came to our attention that a few of our players had violated the league’s gambling policy,” said the franchise’s executive vice president and general manager Brad Holmes.
“These players exhibited decision making that is not consistent with our organizational values and violates league rules. We have made the decision to part ways with Quintez and CJ immediately. We are disappointed by the decision making demonstrated by Stanley and Jameson and will work with both players to ensure they understand the severity of these violations and have clarity on the league rules moving forward.”
The NFL Draft is set to get underway next Thursday as coaches attempt to prepare their rosters for the season ahead. The Hall of Fame weekend will take place on the opening weekend of August, before the regular season begins on September 7. Reigning NFL champions Kansas City Chiefs are the favourites to win the Super Bowl for the second year in a row after getting the better of Philadelphia Eagles in last season’s showpiece event.