Jets cut Xavier Gipson days after costly fumble in opener
Xavier Gipson of the Jets leaves the field after a game against the Steelers on Sept. 7 at MetLife Stadium. Credit: Jim McIsaac
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - Xavier Gipson’s costly fumble in Sunday’s game ended up costing him his job.
The Jets released Gipson on Wednesday. He fumbled a kick return early in the fourth quarter of the Jets’ 34-32 loss to the Steelers. It was a huge momentum swing and led to Aaron Rodgers’ fourth touchdown pass of the game.
Aaron Glenn said after the game that players who cause the Jets to lose games would not play. Gipson’s release sends a strong message to the players about responsibility and accountability.
“At this point, I just felt like we need to have a change at that spot,” Glenn said before practice Wednesday. “It's not just that as far as accountability. There’s accountability in everything that we do. I don't want to just pin it on, ‘He fumbled the ball, OK, he’s getting…’ No, that's not it. This was a number of things that led up to this.”
Kene Nwangwu is the Jets’ primary kick returner, but he left Sunday’s game with a hamstring injury. He did not practice Wednesday. Glenn said the Jets would bring in some kick returners to try out or someone “in-house” could do it.
The Jets signed 5-foot-10 returner/receiver Isaiah Williams, who spent time last season with Detroit where Glenn was defensive coordinator. Williams returned five kicks for 169 yards for the Lions and Bengals. Other options are rookie Arian Smith, Isaiah Davis and practice squad player Jamaal Pritchett.
Glenn said after speaking with general manager Darren Mougey, they decided to make a change.
“I want it to be known that decisions that are made are not rash decisions, and they're never based off of one incident,” Glenn said. “I will keep it at that. Xavier's a really good player. He's going to play in this league, but I felt it was time for us to move on in another direction.”
Gipson had been the Jets’ main punter returner the past two seasons. His career got off to a fast start. Gipson’s walk-off 65-yard punt return touchdown in overtime lifted the Jets over the Bills in the 2023 opener when Rodgers tore his Achilles tendon. Gipson hadn’t done much since then.
He caught 27 passes for 268 yards and a touchdown in his Jets’ career and averaged 8.9 yards on 68 punt returns and 26.0 yards on 44 kickoffs. Gipson also fumbled 10 times and lost four.
It was a surprise that Gipson made the 53-man roster this season. Pritchett, an undrafted rookie free agent, flashed more than Gipson during camp and the preseason as a returner and receiver. But Pritchett muffed a punt in the Jets’ final preseason game. Glenn said Gipson earned the roster spot and praised him for being sure-handed and not dropping 145 consecutive punts in practice.
Gipson coughed it up Sunday after being hit by Kenneth Gainwell on the return. The Steelers recovered the football on the Jets’ 22-yard line and scored two plays later – their second touchdown in a 50-second span - to take a 31-25 lead.
“That’s the worst situation to put my team in,” Gipson said.
Following the game, Glenn was upset about the giveaway and some undisciplined penalties that hurt the Jets. Glenn said, “We can’t have turnovers, we can’t do it. …. You will not be on the field with this team if you are going to cause us to lose games, if you are going to cause issues like that.”
Justin Fields said Glenn expressed those sentiments to the team. Players were sorry to see Gipson go, but Glenn has emphasized he will not tolerate mistakes that cost the Jets games.
“The ball is the most important thing in this organization,” Fields said. “We talk about it all the time where if you have the ball in your hands, you have the most precious thing in the organization.”
Andre Cisco, a Valley Stream product, added, “I necessarily wouldn't say send a message as much as it just reiterates the fact that we have a brand and a type of ball we want to play. And we want guys that are going to be able to do that day in and day out for us.”
Two-minute drill
Rookie tight end Mason Taylor didn’t practice because of an ankle issue that Glenn said they’re “managing.” It’s the same ankle that forced Taylor to miss a week of camp. … Defensive tackle Jay Tufele (personal reasons) wasn’t at practice. … Nickelback Michael Carter II (shoulder) was limited.
Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.
