For quarterback Joe Burrow, the Cincinnati Bengals' signing of wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley was an obvious move.
"I thought it was pretty much a no-brainer," Burrow said Sept. 30. "He played well for us last year and gave us some good reps. ... It's good for the Bengals."
While Sept. 29 was an off-day for Bengals players, the organization's personnel decision-makers made several moves, including signing Tinsley, who made the team out of training camp in 2025 but was cut after camp this year, eventually landing with the Houston Texans practice squad.
Tinsley's signing came as the Bengals' depth at wide receiver is being tested. Andrei Iosivas was injured during the Sept. 20 win against the Texans, and rookie receiver Colbie Young was lost on the first
offensive play of the Sept. 27 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
That made re-introducing Tinsley a natural move.
"It feels good. Obviously, for me, I had a whole year up here with this offense," Tinsley said. "I'm happy to be back. Not much has changed as far as terminology."
Tinsley re-joins an offense that Burrow said will continue trying to distribute the ball evenly when it isn't being aimed at Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the leading receivers. Iosivas was the team's preferred No. 3 option at receiver.
"We have plenty of guys we feel comfortable with going out there, and like we said last week, it's gonna be a by-committee thing," Burrow said. "It'll be Mitch and Dohnte (Meyers) obviously, but (tight ends) Tanner (Hudson) and Mike (Gesicki) can fill those roles as well.
The by-committee approach was effective for Cincinnati against the Steelers − a game in which the Bengals offense might have otherwise done enough to win but for two special-teams miscues that resulted in Steelers scoring drives.
Against Pittsburgh, Chase and Higgins led the way 98 and 90 receiving yards, respectively, and a touchdown apiece. But they aren't always open, and sometimes its best for Cincinnati to show it can lean on other weapons.
By game's end, seven players beyond Chase and Higgins had at least one reception, and running back Chase Brown, Hudson, Gesicki and Meyers all had multiple catches.
In 2025, Tinsley had eight catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Burrow said he was confident Tinsley could quickly find a role in this year's offense, adding his trust in the receiver was "tried and true."
"He was here for a year and a half, so he knows the offense," Burrow said. "He knows what we're trying to do. We'll add his packages that he'll be in for, that he'll be dialed in on. He's a hard worker and a smart guy."
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here's why Mitchell Tinsley fits Bengals 'by-committee' offensive approach
