NFL Reinstates Five Players After Season-Long Gambling Suspensions

Patrick Andres | Apr 18, 2024

Sep 11, 2022; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus (87). / Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK

After serving season-long gambling-related suspensions, five players are set to return to the NFL in 2024.

The league formally reinstated Washington Commanders wide receiver Shaka Toney and four free agents Thursday afternoon—linebacker Rashod Berry, wide receiver Quintez Cephus, safety C.J. Moore and defensive lineman Demetrius Taylor. Each of those five players had been banned indefinitely for gambling violations in 2023.

Toney, the only one of the five still under contract, was suspended for betting on the NFL in 2022—a season in which he played 16 games.

Cephus and Moore were both on the Detroit Lions when the league suspended them in '23; the Lions cut both with immediate effect.

The NFL is reinstating five players who were suspended indefinitely last year for violating the gambling policy: former #Lions WR Quintez Cephus, S C.J. Moore and DL Demetrius Taylor, #Commanders WR Shaka Toney and former #Colts LB Rashod Berry. pic.twitter.com/HgEkt3dgNu

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 18, 2024

Berry, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts, and Taylor were caught up in another round of suspensions in June.

The reinstatements come amid increasing public skepticism of sports leagues' relationships with gambling companies in the wake of sports betting's widespread legalization. On Wednesday, the NBA banned Toronto Raptors forward Jontay Porter for life after finding he bet against his own team.