Bengals’ key backup scores a massive win right before a different training camp for him begins
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley is now an official Adidas athlete following his breakout 2025 season, and expectations will be raised entering a new year with new gear.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley is now an official Adidas athlete.
Tinsley’s representation, Grand Central Sports Management, released an announcement video on X/Twitter Tuesday morning.
Tinsley joins Tee Higgins as Queen City wideouts to score new apparel deals this offseason. Higgins signed with Under Armour at the beginning of July.
A year ago, Tinsley was but a minimum free agent signing of the Bengals. A full season playing in Cincinnati’s prolific offense has helped him gain not just on field notoriety, but now further opportunities to both grow his brand, and be associated with other great NFL players.
Mitchell Tinsley’s rise in Cincinnati
Tinsley was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Washington Commanders following the 2023 NFL Draft. Prior to the NFL, he played five years of college football at three schools, finishing with one year at Penn State in 2022).
Washington kept Tinsley on its roster as a rookie, but cut him in 2024 before retaining him on the practice squad. Once he was free to sign elsewhere, he inked a minimum one-year deal with the Bengals early in the 2025 offseason.
Tinsley slowly worked his way up the depth chart throughout the offseason and shined during training camp and his second preseason game, catching two touchdowns on just five receptions against his former team. That game alone sealed the deal for him to make the 53-man roster, and he caught his first pass and touchdown in Week 2.
Cincinnati played Tinsley in all 17 games and started him four times when Ja’Marr Chase was suspended and Tee Higgins was injured. He finished the year with eight receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
Expectations are even higher for Tinsley this year
A new shoe deal reflects the new level of hype surrounding Tinsley entering his second year with the Bengals. He’s firmly the first receiver off the bench behind Chase, Higgins, and Andrei Iosivas, and a near lock to make the roster once again this time around, he won’t have to outperform most of the death chart just to have a chance at making the team.
Colbie Young is a guarantee to make it being a fourth round pick from this year’s NFL draft and Charlie Jones and Ke’Shawn Williams will be vying for what could be the last spot.
Tinsley really did enough last year when called upon to confirm his standing in one of the best wide receiver rooms in the NFL. Clearly, Adidas thinks the same.