Bengals bring back Mitch Tinsley, promote Tanner Hudson as receiving depth shifts

The Bengals brought Mitch Tinsley back to their active roster Tuesday, signing the receiver from Houston's practice squad as injuries reduced Cincinnati's options behind its starting wideouts.

Cincinnati also promoted tight end Tanner Hudson from its practice squad, waived receiver Ke'Shawn Williams and placed cornerback Jalen Davis on injured reserve. Davis suffered a hamstring injury against Pittsburgh in Week 3, the team said.

Tinsley spent last season and this past offseason with the Bengals before being waived at final cuts. He spent the first three games of 2026 on Houston's practice squad. Returning to Cincinnati gives the third-year receiver a familiar offense to rejoin.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the move Tuesday morning, ahead of the team's announcement:

The receiver room has changed since the Bengals made their initial roster decisions. Cincinnati placed Andrei Iosivas on injured reserve Saturday after he hurt his thumb in Week 2 at Houston. A to Z Sports' John Sheeran reported Tuesday that rookie Colbie Young's knee injury would keep him out for at least a week, further reducing the available depth.

Sheeran described Tinsley as an outside receiver option and noted that his familiarity with the playbook could ease the return. Cincinnati has not announced a specific snap count or role for him. The signing gives the Bengals another receiver to work with while those injuries are addressed.

Hudson's move changes his roster status after two temporary elevations this season. The Bengals said he has three catches for 17 yards. Saturday's transaction notice identified his Pittsburgh appearance as a standard elevation that would return him to the practice squad Monday; Tuesday's signing puts him on the active roster.

For fantasy managers, these moves are worth following through the week's practices and game-day usage. An active-roster signing establishes availability within the roster, while targets and playing time still depend on how Cincinnati deploys its receivers and tight ends.

The Bengals also signed safeties Isaiah Nwokobia and Beau Brade to their practice squad. Nwokobia returns after joining Cincinnati as an undrafted rookie this offseason. Brade has appeared in 26 regular-season games with Baltimore and the Giants.