2 months ago
Cincinnati Bengals rookie Ceyair Wright is giving up a rare NFL opportunity in order to chase another dream ahead of the 2026 season.
The former undrafted college football cornerback isn't a stranger to Hollywood after appearing in several films. That includes a prominent role alongside NBA legend LeBron James in the remake of "Space Jam: A New Legacy."
MORE: Breece Hall injury update from Jets details recovery timeline, Week 1 status
However, Wright's fully prepared to choose acting over the NFL after opting to leave the Bengals this week. The 23-year-old defensive player has spent recent weeks with Cincinnati throughout training camp and the team's first preseason game.
Although, it seems that the former USC Trojans and Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive standout grew up in Los Angeles. That's why his connections to Hollywood continue to run deep after beginning his acting career as a youth.
#cincinnati #ceyair
The former undrafted college football cornerback isn't a stranger to Hollywood after appearing in several films. That includes a prominent role alongside NBA legend LeBron James in the remake of "Space Jam: A New Legacy."
MORE: Breece Hall injury update from Jets details recovery timeline, Week 1 status
However, Wright's fully prepared to choose acting over the NFL after opting to leave the Bengals this week. The 23-year-old defensive player has spent recent weeks with Cincinnati throughout training camp and the team's first preseason game.
Although, it seems that the former USC Trojans and Nebraska Cornhuskers defensive standout grew up in Los Angeles. That's why his connections to Hollywood continue to run deep after beginning his acting career as a youth.
#cincinnati #ceyair
2 months ago
Why undrafted Bengals rookie is leaving NFL team to pursue acting career originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
There are only so many roster spots in the NFL. Every August, plenty of former college stars can't find a home among the 32 teams, eventually turning their lives to somewhere other than the field.
One cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals this summer, however, has one of the more unique reasons to leave his NFL dreams behind: an acting career.
Ceyair Wright — who has already taken on a significant role in a famous sports movie — is reportedly focusing on acting after the Bengals officially announced he has left the team during the preseason.
Here's what to know about Wright, his acting career and more.
#bengals #sporting
There are only so many roster spots in the NFL. Every August, plenty of former college stars can't find a home among the 32 teams, eventually turning their lives to somewhere other than the field.
One cornerback for the Cincinnati Bengals this summer, however, has one of the more unique reasons to leave his NFL dreams behind: an acting career.
Ceyair Wright — who has already taken on a significant role in a famous sports movie — is reportedly focusing on acting after the Bengals officially announced he has left the team during the preseason.
Here's what to know about Wright, his acting career and more.
#bengals #sporting
2 months ago
A former Nebraska defensive back has stepped away from his NFL career to pursue an acting opportunity. Rookie Ceyair Wright has left the Cincinnati Bengals' training camp for an undisclosed role in Hollywood.
Wright has acting credits to his name, having previously acted in "Space Jam: A New Legacy" as LeBron James' son. He has several other acting credits, including roles in the TV series "2 Broke Girls" and "Grown-ish."
Wright played at Nebraska during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. He went undrafted in 2026 before signing with the Bengals.
Bengals coach and former Husker quarterback Zac Taylor told the press that Wright was impressing his coaches during training camp.
"I know it was a difficult decision for him, I think two of the things he was really passionate about were colliding, and he decided to pursue this opportunity."
#bengals #pursue #credits
Wright has acting credits to his name, having previously acted in "Space Jam: A New Legacy" as LeBron James' son. He has several other acting credits, including roles in the TV series "2 Broke Girls" and "Grown-ish."
Wright played at Nebraska during the 2024 and 2025 seasons. He went undrafted in 2026 before signing with the Bengals.
Bengals coach and former Husker quarterback Zac Taylor told the press that Wright was impressing his coaches during training camp.
"I know it was a difficult decision for him, I think two of the things he was really passionate about were colliding, and he decided to pursue this opportunity."
#bengals #pursue #credits
2 months ago
Ceyair Wright was among the crop of undrafted free agents signed by the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this year after a solid collegiate career that began at USC and ended at Nebraska. And now, the UDFA cornerback has left the team, but there's a reported specific reason why: He's also an actor.
It was Wright who played Darius James in ***** e Jam: A New Legacy back in 2021. He also was Zeke in Grown-ish along with a bunch of other acting credits. And as Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters on Saturday, Wright called him and said he was leaving the team, with a report that it's to pursue an acting opportunity.
Yes. That was Wright as LeBron James' oldest kid, Darius James.
There are his full comments in which Taylor called him "a great kid."
No word on that yet. We'll see if we get more information from Wright himself.
#called
It was Wright who played Darius James in ***** e Jam: A New Legacy back in 2021. He also was Zeke in Grown-ish along with a bunch of other acting credits. And as Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters on Saturday, Wright called him and said he was leaving the team, with a report that it's to pursue an acting opportunity.
Yes. That was Wright as LeBron James' oldest kid, Darius James.
There are his full comments in which Taylor called him "a great kid."
No word on that yet. We'll see if we get more information from Wright himself.
#called
2 months ago
Ceyair Wright was among the crop of undrafted free agents signed by the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this year after a solid collegiate career that began at USC and ended at Nebraska. And now, the UDFA cornerback has left the team, but there's a reported specific reason why: He's also an actor.
It was Wright who played Darius James in ****** e Jam: A New Legacy back in 2021. He also was Zeke in Grown-ish along with a bunch of other acting credits. And as Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters on Saturday, Wright called him and said he was leaving the team, with a report that it's to pursue an acting opportunity.
Yes. That was Wright as LeBron James' oldest kid, Darius James.
There are his full comments in which Taylor called him "a great kid."
No word on that yet. We'll see if we get more information from Wright himself.
#wright #darius #ceyair
It was Wright who played Darius James in ****** e Jam: A New Legacy back in 2021. He also was Zeke in Grown-ish along with a bunch of other acting credits. And as Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters on Saturday, Wright called him and said he was leaving the team, with a report that it's to pursue an acting opportunity.
Yes. That was Wright as LeBron James' oldest kid, Darius James.
There are his full comments in which Taylor called him "a great kid."
No word on that yet. We'll see if we get more information from Wright himself.
#wright #darius #ceyair
2 months ago
Ceyair Wright was among the crop of undrafted free agents signed by the Cincinnati Bengals earlier this year after a solid collegiate career that began at USC and ended at Nebraska. And now, the UDFA cornerback has left the team, but there's a reported specific reason why: He's also an actor.
It was Wright who played Darius James in **** e Jam: A New Legacy back in 2021. He also was Zeke in Grown-ish along with a bunch of other acting credits. And as Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters on Saturday, Wright called him and said he was leaving the team, with a report that it's to pursue an acting opportunity.
Yes. That was Wright as LeBron James' oldest kid, Darius James.
There are his full comments in which Taylor called him "a great kid."
No word on that yet. We'll see if we get more information from Wright himself.
#james
It was Wright who played Darius James in **** e Jam: A New Legacy back in 2021. He also was Zeke in Grown-ish along with a bunch of other acting credits. And as Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters on Saturday, Wright called him and said he was leaving the team, with a report that it's to pursue an acting opportunity.
Yes. That was Wright as LeBron James' oldest kid, Darius James.
There are his full comments in which Taylor called him "a great kid."
No word on that yet. We'll see if we get more information from Wright himself.
#james
2 months ago
Cincinnati Bengals CB Ceyair Wright will likely not make his NFL debut in the 2026-27 season after the rookie left training camp.
Wright spent three seasons with the USC Trojans before finishing his NCAA career with one year on the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Despite going undrafted, the CB was signed by the Bengals as an undrafted free agent. However, the former child actor Wright is going to try his hand at a Hollywood career despite being on an NFL team.
The Bengals revealed that Wright is stepping away from camp for a major acting opportunity on Saturday, with head coach Zac Taylor later discussing the situation and praising Wright.
"He called us last night and let us know. It was a difficult thing for him. I think the two things he's really passionate about were colliding, and he decided to pursue this opportunity. He was fun to be around, and he really competed hard for us. I think he was ascending as a player, but he chose to go on a different path."
#really
Wright spent three seasons with the USC Trojans before finishing his NCAA career with one year on the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Despite going undrafted, the CB was signed by the Bengals as an undrafted free agent. However, the former child actor Wright is going to try his hand at a Hollywood career despite being on an NFL team.
The Bengals revealed that Wright is stepping away from camp for a major acting opportunity on Saturday, with head coach Zac Taylor later discussing the situation and praising Wright.
"He called us last night and let us know. It was a difficult thing for him. I think the two things he's really passionate about were colliding, and he decided to pursue this opportunity. He was fun to be around, and he really competed hard for us. I think he was ascending as a player, but he chose to go on a different path."
#really
2 months ago
From playcalls to casting calls?
Cincinnati Bengals rookie cornerback Ceyair Wright signed with the team as an undrafted free agent this offseason, after a five-year college career that saw him take snaps with USC and Nebraska. The next snap he hears, though, may come from a clapperboard.
According to reports, Wright has left the Bengals to pursue an acting role. Wright previously acted in "Space Jam: A New Legacy" as LeBron James' son. He has several other acting credits, including roles in the TV series "2 Broke Girls" and "Training Day."
The Bengals announced that Wright "left the team to pursue other opportunities." Head coach Zac Taylor spoke a bit more on Wright's decision to leave the team.
"I know it was a difficult decision for him, I think two of the things he was really passionate about were colliding, and he decided to pursue this opportunity," Taylor said Saturday.
#wright #pursue #cincinnati
Cincinnati Bengals rookie cornerback Ceyair Wright signed with the team as an undrafted free agent this offseason, after a five-year college career that saw him take snaps with USC and Nebraska. The next snap he hears, though, may come from a clapperboard.
According to reports, Wright has left the Bengals to pursue an acting role. Wright previously acted in "Space Jam: A New Legacy" as LeBron James' son. He has several other acting credits, including roles in the TV series "2 Broke Girls" and "Training Day."
The Bengals announced that Wright "left the team to pursue other opportunities." Head coach Zac Taylor spoke a bit more on Wright's decision to leave the team.
"I know it was a difficult decision for him, I think two of the things he was really passionate about were colliding, and he decided to pursue this opportunity," Taylor said Saturday.
#wright #pursue #cincinnati
2 months ago
After starting his NFL career with the Cincinnati Bengals, rookie cornerback Ceyair Wright is reportedly trading football for Hollywood — for now.
Cincinnati announced Saturday that Wright had left the team to "pursue other opportunities." He was placed on the Exempt/Left Squad list, and the team signed rookie CB Matthew McDoom in a subsequent move.
Though the Bengals did not clarify what those opportunities were, Wright has reportedly left the team after being offered a major acting role that "he couldn't pass up," per KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson. Filming for the role, which is reportedly a "lead role in a big movie," will run through late October.
Despite pivoting to pursue his acting career, Wright is not giving up on playing in the NFL, per Wilson. He will be available to play after filming wraps.
In a press conference on Saturday, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that Wright had informed them of his choice to leave, saying that it was "a difficult decision for him."
#team #role #wilson
Cincinnati announced Saturday that Wright had left the team to "pursue other opportunities." He was placed on the Exempt/Left Squad list, and the team signed rookie CB Matthew McDoom in a subsequent move.
Though the Bengals did not clarify what those opportunities were, Wright has reportedly left the team after being offered a major acting role that "he couldn't pass up," per KPRC 2's Aaron Wilson. Filming for the role, which is reportedly a "lead role in a big movie," will run through late October.
Despite pivoting to pursue his acting career, Wright is not giving up on playing in the NFL, per Wilson. He will be available to play after filming wraps.
In a press conference on Saturday, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor said that Wright had informed them of his choice to leave, saying that it was "a difficult decision for him."
#team #role #wilson
2 months ago
For most football players who make it to the NFL, football is without question their best professional move.
For Bengals cornerback Ceyair Wright, he had another option. And he chose to take it.
The team announced that Wright has left the Bengals to "pursue other opportunities." It's reportedly an acting role.
It's a rare move for a pro football player to not play pro football, but Wright had an offer he couldn't refuse.
"I don't know how to properly define it for him," coach Zac Taylor told reporters on Saturday. "He called us last night and let us know that he had an opportunity. I know it was a difficult decision for him. I think two things he's really passionate about were colliding, and he decided to pursue this opportunity. So he's a great kid, comes from a great university. And, you know, we wish him the best. He was fun to be around. He really competed hard for us. It was fun watching him play. I thought he was ascending as a player. But, obviously, he's chosen to go a different path."
#Football #move #pursue
For Bengals cornerback Ceyair Wright, he had another option. And he chose to take it.
The team announced that Wright has left the Bengals to "pursue other opportunities." It's reportedly an acting role.
It's a rare move for a pro football player to not play pro football, but Wright had an offer he couldn't refuse.
"I don't know how to properly define it for him," coach Zac Taylor told reporters on Saturday. "He called us last night and let us know that he had an opportunity. I know it was a difficult decision for him. I think two things he's really passionate about were colliding, and he decided to pursue this opportunity. So he's a great kid, comes from a great university. And, you know, we wish him the best. He was fun to be around. He really competed hard for us. It was fun watching him play. I thought he was ascending as a player. But, obviously, he's chosen to go a different path."
#Football #move #pursue
