The Bengals may have found a familiar fit in Mitchell Tinsley, and both he and Joe Burrow sound like they expect the receiver to hit the ground running.
Tinsley joined Cincinnati off the Texans’ practice squad and said the transition feels more like a return than a fresh start. He pointed to his comfort level with the offense and the room around him, saying, “ I feel comfortable in the offense.
I feel comfortable around my teammates,” Tinsley said, via Sports Illustrated. “ I’ve been here all offseason and all training camp, so I’m ready to go.
I feel like I picked up right where I left off. ”
Burrow backed that up, saying Tinsley should be able to slot back in quickly because of the time he’s already spent in the system. “ He was here for what a year and a half or so, so he knows the offense, ” Burrow said.
“ He knows what we’re trying to do. He’ll have his packages that he’ll be in for that he’ll be dialed in on, and he’s a hardworking and a smart guy.”
For Tinsley, the move back to Cincinnati also carried a personal edge. He said he was thrilled to get another chance with a team that made him feel wanted.
“ I was just really just elated that I got another opportunity to be here because you never know how this business goes, ” he said. “ I didn’t know if I would get an opportunity to play here, but I’m glad that I am back here.
I’m glad that I’m back in a place that I feel wanted, and I’m ready to go. ”
In Cleveland, Browns head coach Todd Monken pointed directly to the penalty issue after a messy outing. He didn’t dress it up.
“That many penalties aren’t a recipe for success. Will work like hell to fix it.”
(Scott Petrak)
Baltimore’s Eric DeCosta had a different kind of reflection after his team’s finish. The Ravens general manager said he didn’t feel confident the comeback was there and admitted the group didn’t seem ready for that moment.
He described a scene on the sideline involving a Brazilian family of 12 sitting next to him, and the father urging him to keep the faith. “ There was a family of 12 sitting next to me, a Brazilian family, ” DeCosta said, via the team’s website.
“ And with a minute and 20 seconds to go, the father looked over at me, tapped me on the shoulder, and said, ‘Believe.’ And I said, ‘Believe?’
And he said, ‘Believe.’ And I said, ‘Are you a Ravens fan?’
He goes, ‘Yes.’ And he goes, ‘We got this.’
I didn’t really necessarily feel that. ”
The ending did provide a shot at redemption for Tyler Loop, who got the chance to answer after earlier scrutiny. DeCosta said the 56-yard kick felt fitting given what Loop had already gone through. “ Somebody that had to overcome a challenge like Tyler did last year, missing the kick and being scrutinized, and even this year having somebody come in and kick with them on the practice squad … It’s a bottom-line business, but when you’ve been able to overcome something like that, I think it really has a chance to harden you and toughen you and make you your very best, ” DeCosta said.
In Other News...
Bengals Loss Exposed A Bigger Problem Than Just One Bad Night
The Bengals Week 4 loss to Jacksonville was more than a frustrating 22-17 finish, because it also forced a hard look at how much of the roster held up when the game tightened. Cincinnati still got encouraging work from Dohnte Meyers and Tee Higgins, but the night turned choppy quickly after JaMarr Chase left for a concussion evaluation, and the offense never really settled into a rhythm from there.
What made the result sting was how many layers of the operation looked off at once. Jordan Battle and Dylan Fairchild drew criticism for their play, Zac Taylors offensive adjustments did not seem to solve the Jaguars pressure points, and Joe Burrows decision-making under pressure came under the microscope again, leaving the Bengals with a familiar but troubling question about whether this was just a bad night or something deeper. [Read more 🡒]
Tee Higgins Injury Leaves Bengals Facing One Big Offensive Concern
Tee Higgins night against the Jaguars ended with a late adductor injury, and it left the Bengals with one of the more immediate questions they can face this early in the week. Higgins tried to come back after leaving the game, but he was unable to continue, and Cincinnati still has not offered any recovery timeline as the team awaits further evaluation.
For a passing game that leans heavily on Higgins as one of its top targets, the timing matters as much as the injury itself. The Bengals now have to sort through what comes next without knowing how long they may be without him, and that uncertainty adds another layer to an offense already trying to keep its footing. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Suddenly Face A Ja'Marr Chase Scare They Can't Afford
JaMarr Chases afternoon against Jacksonville took an unwelcome turn when a facemask hit led to a head injury and a concussion evaluation, forcing the Bengals star receiver out of the game for a stretch. For a Cincinnati offense that leans heavily on Chase to set the tone, any pause in his availability immediately changes the feel of the sideline and the play-calling.
Zac Taylor also pointed to the broader reality the Bengals are dealing with, noting the strain of injuries across the receiver room with Chase among the players affected. Even when Chase is only listed as questionable to return, the ripple effect is clear for a team that cannot afford to lose more firepower while trying to stay on schedule offensively. [Read more 🡒]