Easop Winston Jr. Bio
Easop Winston Jr. (born December 17, 1996) is an American professional football wide receiver currently listed on the active roster of the Columbus Aviators of the United Football League (UFL). Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and listed at 192 pounds, he plays the wide receiver position and wears jersey number 84. After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, Winston has spent his professional career moving between NFL practice squads, active rosters, and short stints in the Canadian Football League.
Over the course of his career, Winston has been associated with the Los Angeles Rams, New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns, Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets, and Ottawa Redblacks. He played college football at Washington State after beginning his collegiate career at City College of San Francisco.
Early Life and Background
Easop Winston Jr. was born on December 17, 1996, in San Francisco, California, to Easop Winston Sr. and Renee Winston. He grew up in South San Francisco, where his parents raised him in a household that supported his athletic interests from an early age.
Winston attended Junípero Serra High School in San Mateo, California, where he competed in football, basketball, and track and field. During his senior season, his football team, the Padres, were named co-champions of the West Catholic Athletic League alongside the Archbishop Mitty Monarchs. The squad then defeated the Monarchs in the Central Coast Section Championship Final to claim the program’s first Open Division Championship at any level.
At Serra, Winston played alongside Matt Dickerson, who went on to play in the National Football League. The high school program provided him with early exposure to competitive football in the Bay Area and helped shape his development as a wide receiver.
Path to Professional Football
Following high school, Winston began his collegiate career at City College of San Francisco, a prominent junior college program. He grayshirted his first year after enrolling, then returned to post strong numbers the following season with 62 receptions for 986 yards and 12 touchdowns. As a sophomore, he improved those totals with 71 catches for 1,171 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Those performances drew the attention of several four-year programs. Winston ultimately committed to Washington State over an offer from Eastern Michigan to use his remaining eligibility at the Division I level. The move gave him the chance to compete in the Pac-12 Conference against top collegiate competition.
Easop Winston Jr. Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
Winston redshirted his first season at Washington State before breaking into the rotation. As a redshirt junior in 2019, he lined up at the Z receiver position and produced 52 receptions for 654 yards and eight touchdowns. He closed his college career as a redshirt senior with 85 catches for 970 yards and 11 touchdowns.
After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, Winston signed with the Los Angeles Rams as an undrafted free agent on April 25, 2020. He was waived by the Rams during final roster cuts on September 4, 2020.
New Orleans Saints Tenure (2021–2022)
Winston signed with the New Orleans Saints on May 6, 2021, beginning a stretch of practice squad and reserve roles across multiple NFL organizations. He was waived during final roster cuts on August 31, 2021, and was re-signed to the practice squad the following day. On December 12, 2021, he was elevated to the active roster for the team’s Week 14 game against the New York Jets, then signed a reserve and future contract with the Saints on January 11, 2022.
He was waived by New Orleans on August 15, 2022.
Cleveland Browns and Seattle Seahawks (2022–2024)
Winston was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns on August 16, 2022, but was waived again on August 30, 2022, before the regular season began. On October 19, 2022, he signed with the Seattle Seahawks practice squad and later signed a reserve and future contract on January 17, 2023.
He remained with Seattle through 2023, re-signing a reserve and future deal on January 8, 2024. Winston was waived on August 27, 2024, briefly re-signed to the practice squad, and then released a few days later.
New York Jets and Ottawa Redblacks (2024–2025)
On November 26, 2024, Winston signed with the New York Jets practice squad, then signed a reserve and future contract on January 6, 2025. He was waived by the Jets on May 8, 2025.
On July 9, 2025, it was announced that Winston had signed with the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League to the team’s practice roster. He was released on August 31, 2025.
Columbus Aviators Era (2026–Present)
On January 14, 2026, Winston was selected by the Columbus Aviators of the United Football League during the 2026 UFL free agent draft. He was released during training camp and re-signed on May 5.
Notable Events and Milestones
Winston’s most notable professional moment came on December 12, 2021, when he was elevated from the New Orleans Saints practice squad for a Week 14 game against the New York Jets. His movement across multiple NFL practice squads and short active-roster stints stands as the defining pattern of his early professional career.
Easop Winston Jr. Career Statistics
Through his NFL appearances as of 2023, Winston recorded 1 reception for 5 receiving yards, along with 119 return yards. He has spent the majority of his professional career on practice squads while continuing to pursue opportunities at the highest levels of professional football.
Easop Winston Jr. Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Winston is the son of Easop Winston Sr. and Renee Winston. He grew up in South San Francisco, California, in a family that supported his multi-sport athletic development.
Personal Life
Winston’s parents raised him in the Bay Area, where he attended Junípero Serra High School and later launched his collegiate career. Public details about his marital status or children are not widely reported.
2025 Season Performance
Winston began the 2025 calendar year on a reserve and future contract with the New York Jets after signing the deal on January 6, 2025. He was waived by the Jets on May 8, 2025, before the start of the new league year.
On July 9, 2025, Winston signed with the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League to the team’s practice roster, marking his first move to a non-NFL organization. He was released by the Redblacks on August 31, 2025.
The 2025 season reflected the ongoing arc of Winston’s professional path, with steady movement between practice squad opportunities at the NFL and CFL levels as he continued to pursue a regular roster spot.