Joe Burrow Advocates for Mitchell Tinsley Amid Bengals’ Hendrickson Negotiations

In a show of public support, Joe Burrow declared his support for Mitchell Tinsley and urged the Cincinnati Bengals to retain him during the ongoing talks about the Hendrickson contract.

Joe Burrow was outspoken following the Cincinnati Bengals’ preseason victory over the Washington Commanders on August 18, 2025, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio. He proposed that Mitchell Tinsley should be kept on the final 53-man roster. The wide receiver’s training camp effort was commended by Burrow, who stated that Tinsley always executes perfectly. This strong endorsement from Burrow comes amid the persistent issue of resolving the Trey Hendrickson contract dispute.

Joe Burrow Expresses Desire for Mitchell Tinsley to Stay on Final Roster After Strong Preseason

During a postgame press conference in Cincinnati, Joe Burrow expressed that Mitchell Tinsley was deserving of his spot due to his actual game performances, not just his training record. In the preseason match against the Washington Commanders on August 18, 2025, Tinsley received five passes for 73 yards and two touchdowns. One of his scoring catches was made with one hand in the end zone. On August 19, 2025, the wide receivers’ coach, Troy Walters, praised Tinsley’s commitment and ability to learn every position without making mental errors.

Head coach Zac Taylor also emphasized Tinsley’s reliability, mentioning that he was prepared every single day. ESPN’s Monday Night Football commentators Joe Buck and Troy Aikman repeatedly discussed Tinsley’s accurate route running, with Buck even exclaiming, “Have a night, Mitchell Tinsley!” when Tinsley scored his second touchdown.

Trey Hendrickson Still in Contract Dispute as Regular Season Approaches

While fans are enjoying the rise of Mitchell Tinsley, the Cincinnati Bengals are still working to resolve the Trey Hendrickson contract dispute. Negotiations during a Cincinnati front-office meeting on August 14, 2025, failed to reach a consensus. Hendrickson is pushing for guaranteed money beyond the 2025 season, similar to the new contracts secured by T.J. Watt and Myles Garrett.

Joe Burrow stated on August 15, 2025, that Hendrickson, one of the top pass rushers in football, is a vital component of the team and his presence is required. This claim is backed by Hendrickson’s performance last season, where he secured 17.5 sacks and received the AFC Defensive Player of the Week award in Week 9.