NEW YORK — The NFL declared two athletes who were previously committed to play at LSU ineligible to return to the league in the 2026 season after also being deemed ineligible to return to college football, as reported by Tom Pelissero. 

According to Pelissero, the league sent a memo out to teams on Wednesday clarifying that Zxavian Harris and Dae'Quan Wright could not play in the NFL this year because they "returned to college and participated with their college football team after the opening of NFL training camp."

Harris and Wright were two of several athletes who filed a lawsuit in Baton Rouge against the NCAA and Southeastern Conference seeking a fifth year of college eligibility. Both were previously affiliated with NFL teams during the offseason — Harris spent time with the New Orleans Saints, and Wright with the Philadelphia Eagles and Cleveland Browns. 

The two planned to play for LSU if a Baton Rouge judge issued a temporary restraining order against the NCAA and SEC, which he did. However, LSU opted not to roster them after the SEC filed a federal lawsuit against LSU and Louisiana leaders, and later threatened the founding member school with expulsion from the conference.