Jets Release Wide Receiverโ Xavier Gipson Following โขFumble โคin Season Opener
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – The โคNew York Jetsโ announced Tuesday they have released wide receiver Xavier Gipson, a day after he fumbled a punt return in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s 22-16 overtime loss toโ the Pittsburgh โSteelers. The turnover โproved โpivotal, โคsetting โup the steelers for โขthe game-winning โฃfield โgoal.
Gipson, 24, was a surprise roster addition last season after signing โฃas an undrafted free agent out of Stephen F. Austin.โค He quickly became a โฃfan favorite, famously returning a punt 65 yards for the winning touchdown in overtimeโ against the Buffalo Bills in the 2023 seasonโฃ opener – a game tragically overshadowed by Aaron Rodgers‘ โฃAchilles โฃtendon tear. Gipson finished his Jets career with 27 receptions for 268 yards โฃand a touchdown,adding 73โ rushing yards and another touchdown on nine carries.He โalso averaged 8.9โฃ yards on punt returns and 26 yards on kickoffs.
the move signals a shift in direction for the Jets’ special teams unit and underscores the โteam’s emphasis on โคball security. โGipson’s fumble came atโค a critical juncture, erasing a potential scoring possibility and handing momentum to the Steelers. The Jets will now look to evaluate other options at punt returner,potentially โคopening the โคdoorโ for a veteran addition or a promotion โfrom within the practiceโ squad.โค
Elsewhere on the injuryโค front, rookie tightโ end Mason โคTaylor continues to โrecover from a highโฃ ankle โฃsprain sustained during training camp, keeping him โout of Wednesday’s practice. โTaylor, the son of Proโ Footballโ Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, missed over a week of โcampโ with โthe initial โinjury.โฃ Defensive tackle Jay Tufele โขwas absent from practiceโ to attend to a personal matter.