Mitchell Tinsley

Tinsley earned spot on Bengals' active roster after impressing during training camp and preseason ... Played all 17 games with four starts in 2025, recording eight catches for 116 yards and two TDs ... Had six catches for 88 yards and two TDs during 2025 preseason, with both scoring catches being highlight-reel plays in Cincinnati's second preseason game at Washington on Monday Night Football ... Signed Reserve/Future contract with Bengals in February 2025, after spending first two pro seasons ('23-24) with Washington Commanders ... Entered NFL as college free agent of Commanders in 2023 and played in two games as rookie, then spent 2024 on their practice squad ... Finished college career at Penn State in 2022, following two seasons ('20-21) at Western Kentucky and two ('18-19) at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas.

Tinsley earned spot on Bengals' active roster after impressing during training camp and preseason ... Played all 17 games with four starts in 2025, recording eight catches for 116 yards and two TDs ... Had six catches for 88 yards and two TDs during 2025 preseason, with both scoring catches being highlight-reel plays in Cincinnati's second preseason game at Washington on Monday Night Football ... Signed Reserve/Future contract with Bengals in February 2025, after spending first two pro seasons ('23-24) with Washington Commanders ... Entered NFL as college free agent of Commanders in 2023 and played in two games as rookie, then spent 2024 on their practice squad ... Finished college career at Penn State in 2022, following two seasons ('20-21) at Western Kentucky and two ('18-19) at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas.

Career transactions: Signed with Washington as college free agent on 5-12-23 ... Waived by Commanders on 8-27-24 ... Signed to Commanders practice squad on 8-28-24 ... Commanders practice squad contract expired on 2-3-25 ... Signed with Cincinnati as free agent on 2-4-25 ... Signed contract extension with Bengals on 1-5-26.

Pro career:

2023—Played in two games as a rookie for Washington ... Inactive for 15 games ... Did not record any stats ... Made NFL debut on Sept. 17 at Denver, lining up for three offensive snaps ... Played seven special teams snaps on Jan. 7 vs. Dallas.

2024—Did not play ... Spent season on Washington's practice squad.

2025—Played in all 17 games with four starts in first season with Cincinnati ... Caught eight passes for 116 yards and two TDs ... Scored first career TD on first career reception on Sept. 14 vs. Jacksonville, bringing in 13-yard catch with one hand to tie game in third quarter ... On Nov. 2 vs. Chicago, caught 27-yard pass from QB Joe Flacco in third quarter to set up Bengals TD two plays later ... Made first career start on Nov. 23 vs. New England and had 17-yard TD catch in fourth quarter ... Started second straight game on Nov. 27 at Baltimore, catching two passes for 22 yards.

College: Spent final season (2022) at Penn State, following two years ('20-21) at Western Kentucky University and two ('18-19) at Hutchinson Community College in Hutchinson, Kansas ... In lone season at Penn State, caught 51 passes for 577 yards and five TDs in 13 games (10 starts) ... Played in 39 games with 33 starts at Division I level (final three seasons), totaling 181 catches for 2356 yards and 23 TDs ... Second-team All-Conference USA selection at Western Kentucky in 2021.

High school/personal: Hometown is Lee's Summit, Mo. ... Attended Lee's Summit High School, where he caught 19 passes for 350 yards and six TDs as a senior ... Also participated in basketball and track and field ... Media studies major at Penn State.

NOTE ABOUT NFL EXPERIENCE: Tinsley did not earn an accrued year of experience toward NFL free agency in 2024.

Last Updated July 2026