MT #82

Mitchell Tinsley

Wide Receiver · Penn State

A well-traveled receiver who turned a practice-squad grind into a one-handed touchdown catch and a starting role in Cincinnati.

Mitchell Tinsley's path ran through junior college, Western Kentucky and Penn State before he found NFL footing with the Bengals in 2025. After bouncing on and off Washington's roster for two seasons, he broke through as a full-season contributor in Cincinnati's receiving corps.

★ Second-team All-Conference USA at Western Kentucky (2021)

★ 1,402 receiving yards in a single college season at Western Kentucky

★ Scored a one-handed touchdown in his first NFL reception

Path to the league

Tinsley played two seasons at Western Kentucky, breaking out in 2021 with 87 catches for 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns, before transferring to Penn State for 2022, where he caught 51 passes for 577 yards and five touchdowns. He signed with the Washington Commanders as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and spent time on both the active roster and practice squad over two seasons.

Career highlights

After Washington released him in 2024, Tinsley signed a futures contract with Cincinnati in February 2025 and made the most of his opportunity. His first career NFL catch was a one-handed touchdown grab that helped the Bengals tie a game against Jacksonville, a signature moment in his rookie campaign.

2025 season recap

Tinsley appeared in all 17 games for Cincinnati in 2025, starting four of them, and finished with eight receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns while filling in during stretches when the Bengals' top receivers were unavailable. The team rewarded him with a one-year contract extension in January 2026.