For many players around the NFL, Week 3 of the preseason is their final professional football game. For others, it’s their last shot to present a case to get another opportunity either for the team they’re currently on or the other 31 teams. Washington Commanders rookie wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley did the latter on Saturday.
Tinsley made two impressive plays in the Commanders’ 21-19 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
His first play came in the second quarter. Tinsley ran a post route from the slot, deep across the Bengals’ zone defense. Washington’s quarterback Jacoby Brissett slid through the pocket to deliver a strike. Tinsley did the rest, cutting up the sideline and making a defender miss to get into the end zone for a 39-yard touchdown.
Mitchell Tinsley made his presence felt in the third quarter, beating Bengals cornerback Allan George with an out-and-up to get free down the sideline. Tinsley was a foot short of the end zone. But his 38-yard reception set up Washington’s second touchdown, taking the lead 14-10.
Tinsley finished with three catches, a game-high 89 receiving yards, and a touchdown. After the game, Tinsley said he did enough to make Washington’s 53-man roster.
“I thought (Mitchell) Tinsley really showed really well, and obviously he made a couple [of] plays for us,” Commanders head coach Ron Rivera said, per Ben Standig of The Athletic.
The Commanders have Terry McLaurin, Jahan Dotson, Curtis Samuel, and Dyami Brown cemented firmly on the roster. Beyond those four, Tinsley is in the conversation at wide receiver with Byron Pringle, Marcus Kemp, and Dax Milne.
Mitchell Tinsley’s journey to Washington
Tinsley went undrafted in this year’s NFL Draft after a journey in college. The Missouri native started his collegiate career at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas. After two years, he transferred to Western Kentucky.
As a junior in 2021, he produced his best year. He snagged 87 receptions for 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns with the Hilltoppers. He transferred to Penn State the following year to replace the departed Dotson. Tinsley had 51 catches, 577 receiving yards, and five touchdowns with the Nittany Lions.
He is hoping to be Dotson’s teammate this season, making the 53-man roster. Tinsley will have options if waived, including returning to the Commanders’ practice squad. Or maybe his body of work throughout the preseason catches the eye of another team?
