Jets cutting Xavier Gipson after costly fumble in loss to Steelers

Aaron Glenn is not messing around.

The Jets coach said Sunday that players who make undisciplined mistakes that cost the Jets games would not stay on the field for them. He’s backing up his words.

The Jets are planning on releasing Xavier Gipson on Wednesday, according to a source. Gipson fumbled a kickoff return in the fourth quarter in Sunday’s 34-32 loss to the Steelers. The fumble was a huge swing in momentum and led to the Steelers scoring two touchdowns in 50 seconds.

In his postgame press conference, Glenn indicated that Gipson’s hold on the job might be tenuous.

“The one thing to me that turned this game is, man, we can’t have turnovers,” Glenn said. “We can’t do it. We have to be a more disciplined team. There were some penalties that happened in that game that were true discipline issues and, again, that’s something that will be addressed because you will not be on the field with this team if you’re going to cause us to lose games, if you’re going to cause issues like that.”

The Jets kept Gipson on the roster after a training camp battle with rookie Jamaal Pritchett for the returner/backup receiver spot. Pritchett remains on the practice squad, and he is an option for the Jets now that Gipson is gone.

Gipson made the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and had the game-winning punt return in overtime of Week 1 against the Bills that year. He has not had much production since then. He had six catches for 39 yards and a touchdown last year. He returned both kickoffs and punts for the Jets. 

On Sunday, the Steelers scored a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter. Gipson fumbled the ensuing kickoff, giving the Steelers the ball at the Jets’ 22-yard line. Two plays later, Aaron Rodgers hit Calvin Austin for an 18-yard touchdown, and the Steelers took a 31-26 lead.