CINCINNATI — The Bengals released wide receiver and return specialist Ke’Shawn Williams on Monday, two days after his muffed punt helped swing Cincinnati’s 30-27 loss to Pittsburgh.
Williams’ only punt return of the season ended in disaster when he failed to secure the kick in the fourth quarter, allowing the Steelers to recover at the Cincinnati 14. Pittsburgh turned the turnover into a field goal that tied the game at 27. Cincinnati had claimed Williams off waivers from Pittsburgh in December 2025, and he handled both punt and kickoff return duties late last season.
The Bengals appear to be replacing him with Mitchell Tinsley, who is being signed to the active roster. Tinsley spent training camp with Cincinnati before being waived during final roster cuts and gives the Bengals another receiver with experience in the offense and on special teams. Tinsley was signed off the Texans practice squad.
Cincinnati also signed tight end Tanner Hudson to the active roster, placed slot cornerback Jalen Davis on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, and added safeties Isaiah Nwokobia and Beau Brade to the practice squad.
The moves come as the Bengals try to clean up the special-teams mistakes that directly contributed to 10 Pittsburgh points on Sunday, including Williams’ muffed punt and an earlier roughing-the-punter penalty that extended a Steelers touchdown drive.
