Bengals get a head start on their offseason to-do list by continuing one of their best stories from the 2025 season
Cincinnati brings back one of its bright young players, along with plenty others.
The Cincinnati Bengals made their first roster moves of the 2026 offseason Monday afternoon by signing 13 players to Reserve/Future contracts, and six additional players to one-year contract extensions through the 2026 season.
The 13 players signed to Reserve/Futures deals were all a part of Cincinnati’s practice squad at the conclusion of the 2025 season. They will not count on the team’s active list until Feb. 9, the Monday after the Super Bowl.
Bengals Reserve/Futures contracts
- LB Liam Anderson
- C Jacob Bayer
- HB Gary Brightwell
- QB Sean Clifford
- OT Andrew Coker
- DT Howard Cross III
- OT Javon Foster
- WR Xavier Johnson
- CB Jalen Kimber
- CB Bralyn Lux
- WR Jordan Moore
- LB Antwaun Powell-Ryland
- S Russ Yeast
As for the other six, they were members of the 53-man roster and were set to become free agents, but not unrestricted free agents. They will remain on the roster for the start of the offseason.
Bengals one-year extensions
- DE Isaiah Foskey
- LB Joe Giles-Harris
- TE Cam Grandy
- LB Shaka Heyward
- S PJ Jules
- WR Mitchell Tinsley
Foskey was a restricted free agent (RFA), and the other five were exclusive rights free agents (ERFA). An RFA is any player with an expiring contract who has earned exactly three accrued seasons. An ERFA is any player with an expiring contract who has earned fewer than three accrued seasons.
The financials of each deal are not publicly available just yet, but of all the names listed above, there’s one that stands out in a very positive manner after the year he just had.
Mitchell Tinsley sticking around after entering the spotlight in 2025
Tinsley’s story was one of the Bengals’ best last year. He was signed to a futures deal last February and slowly but surely made a name for himself over the course of the offseason. By the time training camp came around, he was in position to make the 53-man roster. He stayed healthy, balled out during the preseason, and wound up making the team. He even caught his first touchdown pass in Week 2.
Cincinnati counted on Tinsley more and more as the year progressed. He played in all 17 games, made two starts for Tee Higgins, and another for Ja’Marr Chase during a four-week span. His fourth and final start came when both Chase and Higgins were both playing as well. He ended the year with eight receptions for 116 yards and two touchdowns.
Bringing Tinsley back was a no-brainer, and now he can begin his offseason knowing exactly where he’ll be for the coming months.
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