The Cincinnati Bengals have made a roster change after Friday's preseason win over the Detroit Lions. The team has parted ways with a rookie cornerback so he could pursue an acting role.
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According to an update provided on Saturday, the Bengals have placed Ceyair Wright on the Exempt/Left Squad list. He will not count against the 90-man roster. Additionally, the team replaced Wright with undrafted rookie cornerback Matthew McDoom.
Wright, a former Nebraska defender, played in the preseason game against the Lions. He tallied two tackles. He then informed head coach Zac Taylor that he had another opportunity, reportedly a lead role in a movie.
"Two things he has a passion for were colliding," Taylor told media members, per The Athletic's Paul Dehner Jr.
Salute to obscure Bengals training camp player Ceyair Wright. He has left the team to pursue other opportunities. He’s most known for being in Space Jam 2. https://t.co/VPTze8AmPe pic.twitter.com/gmag2Cfigb
— obscure bengals (@obscure_bengals) August 15, 2026
Leaving an NFL team to pursue a role in a film could sound like a surprise, but Wright has spent his life balancing acting with athletics. This is something he did in high school and college while attending USC and then Nebraska.
Wright made his on-screen debut with one episode of Instant Mom in 2014. He then appeared in 2 Broke Girls and Training Day in 2017.
The actor/athlete had a role in the 2019 film American Skin, which featured Theo Rossi, Nate Parker, and Omari Hardwick in prominent roles.
He then starred as LeBron James' son in 2021's Space Jam: A New Legacy. This film released while Wright spent his freshman season with USC. Most recently, Wright appeared in 15 episodes of the TV series Grown-ish as Zeke.
With Wright facing steep odds to land a spot on the Bengals' 53-man roster, he will now go out and pursue a lead role in a movie. The Bengals, meanwhile, will continue the preseason schedule with an Aug. 22 game against the Bears.
They will then close out the preseason on Aug. 28 against the Eagles. After that, the team will cut the roster down to 53 players.
