Ceyair Wright Left Bengals to Pursue Acting Role

The defensive back has departed the team to film the lead role in the upcoming movie Get Lite.

Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Football

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a football player in motion, transitioning from the field to a spotlighted environment. — Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Ceyair Wright has stepped away from the team to star as the lead in the film Get Lite. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Ceyair Wright has left the Cincinnati Bengals to star as the lead in the motion picture Get Lite. The 23-year-old athlete prioritized the acting project over his football season due to a scheduling conflict.

Why it matters

The move represents a rare career pivot for a professional athlete who aims to balance a budding Hollywood career with a desire to return to the NFL. Wright plans to resume his football training once production on the film concludes.

Ceyair Wright, 23, signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in the spring of 2026. He previously played college football at USC and Nebraska.

The players

Ceyair Wright

He is a 23-year-old professional football player who previously played at USC and Nebraska before signing with the Bengals.

Teyana Taylor

She is the director of the film Get Lite, which features Wright in a lead role.

The details

Wright, who previously appeared in Space Jam: A New Legacy, will work under director Teyana Taylor for his new role in Get Lite. The conflicting production schedule necessitated his decision to step away from the Bengals for the duration of the filming period.

Ceyair Wright signed with the Cincinnati Bengals in spring 2026.

Season Trajectory

This departure forces the Bengals to adjust their roster depth during the 2026 season. It marks a unique mid-season disruption as the team navigates competitive challenges without a previously signed free agent.

The Bengals must now account for a vacant spot in their defensive rotation following the exit of the undrafted free agent. Fans tracking the team roster will see a change in depth chart personnel as the organization manages the loss of his skills.

The takeaway

Balancing professional sports and a career in acting is an exceptionally difficult challenge that requires significant flexibility. Wright intends to pursue further NFL opportunities once his current film production obligations are satisfied.