One of the breakout stars of this year’s NFL preseason, Mitchell Tinsley officially made the Cincinnati Bengals’ 2025 roster Tuesday.
The former Penn State receiver heard of the good news during a FaceTime with position coach Troy Walters, which the team posted on its social media pages.
“You can relax, man. You can relax and enjoy,” Walters said. “Call your mom. Call your family. You’re part of the Bengals, and we look forward to you doing great things.”
Tinsley gained national attention last week for one of the best in-game performances of any player in the league this preseason.
The 6-1, 205-pound wideout hauled in five receptions for 73 yards and a pair of acrobatic touchdowns on Aug. 18, garnering rave reviews from national media and his superstar quarterback Joe Burrow.
The Bengals then sat Tinsley for their third and final preseason game alongside the typical starters.
“You’ve balled out at every phase of this journey,” Walters continued in his FaceTime call. “So I just want to personally congratulate you and let you know that you’ve earned the trust and the respect to be a valuable contributor to this team this year.”
Tinsley sincerely thanked Walters for the opportunity and asked one question: Was there anything in his game he could be doing better?
Walters suggested the Bengals want him to move between receiving positions fluidly, but he continued the effusive praise for his new pass catcher while doing so.
“You’re diligent, you’re dedicated, you major in the minors,” Walters said. “All the things that we’re looking for in the receiver position. Now we just gotta keep getting better.”
Tinsley, an undrafted signee with the Washington Commanders in 2023, could make his Bengals debut in the season opener on Sept. 14 vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. He appeared in two games while with Washington but did not make a catch.
Tinsley transferred to Penn State after star-studded seasons at Western Kentucky, producing a respectable 2022 season of 577 yards and five touchdowns in 13 games
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