Bengals 2025 Roster Breakdown: Mitchell Tinsley enters tough roster battle as overlooked wide receiver

Bengals roster breakdown is back! During the 99 days leading up to Cincinnati’s regular season opener against the Cleveland Browns, the player with the matching jersey number as days remaining will become the day’s highlighted player.

82 days remain until the Bengals’ first game of the 2025 season. It’s time to throw No. 82 Mitchell Tinsley’s name into the ring.

Mitchell Tinsley

Age: 25
Year: 3rd
Position: Wide receiver
College: Penn State
Previous Teams: Washington Commanders (2023-24)
Jersey Number: 82

Tinsley is entering his third year in the NFL and first with the Bengals after going undrafted during the 2023 NFL Draft. He played one season at Penn State in 2022, posting 51 receptions for 577 yards and five touchdowns. He spent 2020-21 at Western Kentucky and started his collegiate career at Hutchinson Community College from 2018-19.

The Commanders signed Tinsley as a UDFA in 2023 and kept him on the roster during that season. He played in two regular season games and ran two routes in Week 2. He played special teams during Washington’s regular season finale in Week 18. He was kept on the Commanders’ practice squad for all of 2024 and was not brought back to the team once the offseason began. It was then when the Bengals signed him to a futures deal on Feb. 4.

Contract Details

Tinsley signed a one-year, $960,000 contract with the Bengals this offseason. It’s the minimum amount for a player with one accrued season, which characterizes Tinsley since his second year in the league was spent entirely on a practice squad.

Tinsley’s deal is not guaranteed and his potential cash earnings and salary cap hit is the same $960,000 amount.

Roster Outlook

Technically speaking, Tinsley is the only non-rookie free agent wide receiver Cincinnati added this offseason. He joins a receivers room with eight returning players, and three undrafted rookies. 12 is about double the expected number of wideouts to make the initial 53-man roster, but it’s not impossible Tinsley could sneak on as WR6 behind those who have contractual security to make the team.

Three UDFAs, Isaiah Williams, and Tinsley may all be competing for that last spot on the roster. If Tinsley falls short, the practice squad is definitely in play for him.

Roster odds: 10%
Projected role: Reserve wide receiver