Bengals have an obvious backup plan vs. Patriots while Ja’Marr Chase serves his one-game suspension
Chase being out gives a preseason hero his chance to shine.
Ja’Marr Chase’s one-game suspension has been upheld following appeal, which means the Cincinnati Bengals must now prepare to play their Week 12 game against the New England Patriots without their best offensive player.
There is no replacing Chase with one player, or two, or three. The gravity he possesses as a threat impacts how defenses scheme coverage against the Bengals. Leaving him in a true one-on-one situation is grounds for being burned as a defensive play-caller. He’s one of the best skill-players in the game today for a multitude of reasons.
So how will the Bengals proceed without Chase? Tee Higgins will surely become the focal point like he was during a four-game stretch in 2022 when Chase dealt with a hip injury. Higgins averaged 6.5 receptions and 92.8 yards per game without his partner in crime on the field for those four games.
Higgins will get his targets, but Cincinnati also has a receiver who’s been vying for more playing time, and Sunday can be the perfect situation for him to play a full game for the very first time.
Mitchell Tinsley’s time to shine arrives with Ja’Marr Chase’s suspension
One of the best stories before the Bengals’ season went down the drain was the emergence of Mitchell Tinsley in the Bengals’ wide receiver room. Tinsley showed up in the earliest part of the offseason and worked relentlessly to get a fair shot in training camp and the preseason, which he took full advantage of and made the 53-man roster.
Tinsley made headlines in August thanks to his big night against the Washington Commanders, but when they continued to happen in the rare chances he received once the real games began, the offseason hype was looking more and more real. He’s now fourth on the depth chart behind two of the game’s best and Andrei Iosivas.
Simple logic states Tinsley should now get the chance to start with one of those three out this week. Tinsley hasn’t played much for Iosivas because he’s not as accustomed to working out of the slot. Most of his best plays going back to the preseason have come from routes starting from the outside. Having a vertical threat who’s shown the ability to track the ball and come down with it, albeit a small sample size, would be ideal with Chase unavailable.
Chase and Higgins being on the field together has become too valuable for Cincinnati’s offense to mess with. Their presence prevents Tinsley from seeing extended playing time, or even practice time during the week.
For the next few days, Tinsley should be taking starting reps as he prepares to play more snaps than he’s ever played before. His current season-high is 17 from Week 9’s loss to the Chicago Bears.
Mitchell Tinsley’s 2025 with the Bengals, so far
- Tinsley signed a one-year contract with the Bengals on Feb. 4, 2025.
- After impressing in training camp, Tinsley caught all six of his preseason targets for 88 yards and two touchdowns.
- Tinsley made Cincinnati’s 53-man roster and has played in all 10 games this season, catching three passes for 49 yards and a touchdown.
The only possible threat to Tinsley’s brief ascension is Jermaine Burton. The third-round pick from the 2024 NFL Draft has been a healthy scratch for most of the season, and missed last week’s game due to illness. Draft status isn’t a strong reason to have him make his starting debut over Tinsley at this stage of the season. The Bengals need all the reliable players they can get on the field, and Burton clearly isn’t trusted to play.
Tinsley has earned trust in very selective moments. It’s time to see if that translates to a full game with Chase sidelined.
Cincinnati Bengals News
Cincinnati Bengals completely overhaul the Al Golden defense, go back to controversial pipeline in latest 3-round mock draft
Latest 2026 NFL mock draft gives the Cincinnati Bengals a complete defensive makeover.
