{"id":242915,"date":"2025-08-19T09:30:18","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T13:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=242915"},"modified":"2025-08-19T09:38:42","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T13:38:42","slug":"nfl-preseason-week-2-risers-for-the-cincinnati-bengals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/08\/19\/nfl-preseason-week-2-risers-for-the-cincinnati-bengals\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL Preseason Week 2: Risers for the Cincinnati Bengals"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In Week 2 of the NFL preseason, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bengals.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cincinnati Bengals<\/a> faced off against the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/category\/nfl-teams\/washington-commanders\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Washington Commanders<\/a>, and even though they came away victorious 31-17, both sides of the ball left much to be desired. The offense did score on its first possession as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/B\/BurrJo01.htm\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joe Burrow<\/a> went <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/boxscore\/_\/gameId\/401772973\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">9\/14 for 62\u00a0<\/a><span style=\"box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/boxscore\/_\/gameId\/401772973\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">yards\u00a0<\/a>and<\/span> one touchdown. The blocking for Burrow up the middle was atrocious again, with the Bengals badly needing help at right guard, and it might be on the way in the form of Dalton Risner. The defense was inconceivably worse than against the Philadelphia Eagles. It seemed to be making the same fundamental mistakes they made in 2024, as the Commanders torched Al Golden&#8217;s crew in all phases in the first half. Those fighting for roster spots will have one more chance to impress before final cuts, so let&#8217;s examine three players who stood out after Game 2 of the preseason.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_242962\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-242962\" style=\"width: 640px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-242962 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/08\/USATSI_26876365-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/08\/USATSI_26876365-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/08\/USATSI_26876365-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/08\/USATSI_26876365-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/08\/USATSI_26876365-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/08\/USATSI_26876365-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/08\/USATSI_26876365-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/5\/2025\/08\/USATSI_26876365-1200x800.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-242962\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) sets a play in the first quarter of the NFL Preseason Week 2 game between the Washington Commanders and the Cincinnati Bengals at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h2>NFL Preseason Week 2: Risers for the Cincinnati Bengals<\/h2>\n<h3>Mitchell Tinsley<\/h3>\n<p>The Bengals signed Mitchell Tinsley to a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bengals.com\/team\/players-roster\/mitchell-tinsley\/career\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Reserve\/Future contract<\/a> in February, as he was waived by the Commanders last August. The Penn State product has good size at 6&#8217;1&#8243;, 205 pounds, and wowed with some serious catches that may have just secured him a roster spot after a five-reception day for 73 yards and two touchdowns.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">MITCH. TINSLEY. AGAIN.<\/p>\n<p>Watch on ESPN<br \/>Stream on <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFLPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@NFLPlus<\/a> and ESPN+ <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/lsOpLpMTDt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/lsOpLpMTDt<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; NFL (@NFL) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFL\/status\/1957617806851375142?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Tinsley has the stamp of approval from two important decision makers in Zac Taylor and Burrow, and they both have been effusive in their praise, as the Bengals typically keep six wide receivers, which bodes well for number 82.<\/p>\n<h3>Charlie Jones<\/h3>\n<p>Charlie Jones has been hampered by injuries since he was drafted by Cincinnati in 2023. Now,\u00a0 the third-year veteran is finally healthy and has looked solid in camp and games. Burrow seems to trust Chuck Sizzle, especially on third down and with tight, contested catches.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Joe Burrow with a dart to Charlie Jones for six! \ud83c\udfaf<\/p>\n<p>Watch on ESPN<br \/>Stream on <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFLPlus?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@NFLPlus<\/a> and ESPN+ <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/71FYimTSSP\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/71FYimTSSP<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; NFL (@NFL) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFL\/status\/1957608270333616579?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Jones also has good hands and quickness and has proven to be valuable as a kickoff return specialist, which only cements his place on the roster even further.<\/p>\n<h3>Tahj Brooks<\/h3>\n<p>The Bengals may have found a gem in the sixth round in rookie running back Tahj Brooks. His lower half is incredibly strong, and when he gets going, it&#8217;s hard to bring him down on first contact. Brooks is a capable pass protector with good vision and can bounce outside if needed.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Manor grad Tahj Brooks reversing field for a Bengals first down<\/p>\n<p>&quot;Nice carry by the rookie Brooks&quot;<a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/WreckEm?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">#WreckEm<\/a> | <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Manor_Sports?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@Manor_Sports<\/a> | <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ManorISD?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">@ManorISD<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/oT59EnSeQt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pic.twitter.com\/oT59EnSeQt<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&mdash; Cory Mose (@Cory_Mose) <a  href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Cory_Mose\/status\/1957625042772308009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">August 19, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Brooks will get plenty of run in the final preseason game this Saturday against the Indianapolis Colts. It will be interesting to see if he&#8217;s the backup to Chase Brown on September 7th against Cleveland or if they ease him into that role with old friend Samaje Perine still a viable option.<\/p>\n<p>Main Photo: Sam Greene\/The Enquirer-USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Week 2 of the NFL Preseason, the Cincinnati Bengals faced off against the Washington Commanders. Who stood out for the men in stripes? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3872,"featured_media":242983,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[9854,7725,31895,33141],"class_list":["post-242915","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bengals","tag-charlie-jones","tag-cincinnati-bengals-news","tag-mitchell-tinsley","tag-tahj-brooks"],"modified_by":"Will Koshover, Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242915","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3872"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=242915"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242915\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":242960,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/242915\/revisions\/242960"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/242983"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=242915"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=242915"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=242915"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}