As NFL preseason action heats up and training camps wind down, two teams are making headlines for very different reasons: the Cincinnati Bengals, where wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley is turning heads with an inspiring preseason surge, and the New York Jets, who braved heavy rain and fierce competition on their final day of camp, striving to cement their identity before the regular season kicks off.
Let’s start in Cincinnati, where Mitchell Tinsley’s journey has gone from overlooked to unforgettable in just a matter of weeks. On August 18, 2025, Tinsley put together a breakout performance, hauling in two touchdown passes during the Bengals’ 31-17 preseason victory over the Washington Commanders. The game was more than just a win—it was a statement from a player who’s been battling for every inch of recognition.
Bengals head coach Zac Taylor didn’t mince words about Tinsley’s impact. “He just works hard,” Taylor said. “He has become a guy that everybody really respects in the locker room. He just goes out there and just works and we respect that. And again, he created the opportunities for himself. He’s done enough in practice to where we wanted to put him in positions to be at the point of attack when he was in the game there, and he rewarded himself with touchdowns and catches and extending drives and someone that’s reliable for the quarterbacks in August.”
Tinsley’s path to this moment hasn’t exactly been a straight shot. He began his college career at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, then moved to Western Kentucky University for two seasons, and finally wrapped up at Penn State. After going undrafted, he signed with the Washington Commanders’ practice squad in May 2023, spent two years with the organization, and even appeared in two regular-season games—though he never notched a catch. Fast forward to January 2025, and Tinsley was signed by the Bengals, starting training camp at the bottom of a deep wide receiver group.
But hard work pays off. Through August 20, Tinsley’s preseason stats speak volumes: six receptions for 88 yards, and those two crucial touchdowns against his former team. If anyone thought the matchup against Washington would be a “revenge game,” Tinsley shrugged off the narrative. “I have a lot of goals I want to accomplish,” he said. “I’m getting close to where I want to be.”
His highlight moment? A dazzling, toe-tapping 21-yard touchdown catch right before halftime, the kind of play that makes coaches take notice. “That was just a straight fade,” Tinsley explained. “Jake (Browning) threw me a good ball, and I went up and made a play. That was really it. Nothing too crazy about it.”
Coach Taylor showed his appreciation for Tinsley’s efforts even before the game, naming him one of the preseason game captains alongside linebacker Joe Giles-Harris. Both players entered camp as long shots to make the roster, but their consistent work ethic and knack for making plays have set them apart. “There are a lot of guys that have had really good camps, but those are just two guys that have just quietly done what we’ve asked them to do and continue to work every single day to get better,” Taylor said. “There could have been a bunch of guys we put out there but just felt appropriate for today. One guy on offense and one guy on defense.”
With the Bengals’ final preseason game looming against the Indianapolis Colts on August 23, Tinsley’s momentum couldn’t come at a better time. He’s gone from a practice squad afterthought to a potential roster lock, all in the span of a single summer. “There was a lot of hard work I put in over the offseason,” Tinsley reflected. “I’m glad it’s paying off.”
Meanwhile, up in Florham Park, the New York Jets wrapped up their training camp under a relentless downpour, but the wet conditions didn’t dampen their competitive spirit. Tuesday’s session was a taste of regular season intensity, with crowd noise blaring and both sides of the ball going all out in an extensive move-the-ball period. Quarterback Justin Fields set the tone, leading a gritty 14-play scoring drive that started on the offense’s own 35-yard line. The Jets leaned heavily on their ground game, featuring running backs Breece Hall and Braelon Allen, and Fields found tight end Mason Taylor for a big gain—only to see the play wiped out by an offensive pass interference call.
Undeterred, the offense kept pushing, eventually capping the drive with Fields threading a pass to wide receiver Garrett Wilson for a touchdown on third-and-goal from the 7-yard line. Offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand captured the team’s emerging identity: “We want to be a tough, physical, violent football team and that’s what we want to show on offense,” Engstrand said. “And like we talked about earlier in the spring and OTAs, we want that to show up every day.”
But defense never takes a day off in New York. On Fields’ next series, cornerback Brandon Stephens made his presence felt, intercepting a pass intended for Mason Taylor just three plays in. “We were in a three-deep,” Stephens said. “I saw the seam and man, I just went to go attack the ball honestly.” Defensive coordinator Steve Wilks was effusive in his praise: “Number one, coming in I loved his leadership. Coming from an organization like the Ravens and the things that he learned there, he has a voice in the room. But when you look at his qualities as a player, his length, his speed, his quickness, he’s definitely taken a step in the right direction.”
Fields and the offense bounced back with another scoring series, featuring big plays to Arian Smith and Mason Taylor, and more tough running from Hall and Allen. The drive stalled after Fields was sacked on third down, bringing out the field goal unit for a simulation. The Jets’ defense, led by returning stars Jermaine Johnson and Quinnen Williams, continued to impress, with Johnson notching multiple would-be sacks and Wilks emphasizing, “I preach all the time to the defense, everything we do starts up front and those guys are going to be the cow bells of this defense and really trying to spark and get us going.”
Not everything was smooth sailing—rain caused ball-handling issues for both Fields and backup quarterback Brady Cook, and several key players sat out with injuries. Still, the Jets’ physical, resilient approach was on full display, setting the tone for what they hope will be a hard-nosed campaign. As they prepare for their preseason finale against the Philadelphia Eagles at MetLife Stadium, the Jets have shown they’re not afraid to get their hands dirty—literally and figuratively.
As the preseason draws to a close, both the Bengals and Jets are riding waves of momentum, fueled by breakout performances, gritty practices, and a relentless drive to prove themselves. With roster spots and starting roles still up for grabs, the next few days promise even more drama as teams finalize their lineups for the regular season. For players like Mitchell Tinsley and organizations like the Jets, every snap counts—and the football world is watching.