Lead: The New York Jets plan to release returner and backup receiver Xavier Gipson on Wednesday after a decisive error in their season opener. Gipson fumbled a kickoff late in the fourth quarter of the Sept. 7, 2025, 34-32 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a turnover that preceded two quick Steelers touchdowns and a momentum swing the Jets could not overcome. Head coach Aaron Glenn warned after the game that undisciplined mistakes that cost games would not be tolerated, and the club appears to be following through. The move leaves the Jets shorthanded on special teams and elevates roster questions about return duties.
Key Takeaways
- The Jets lost 34-32 to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 7, 2025; a late kickoff fumble by Xavier Gipson directly preceded two Steelers touchdowns in roughly 50 seconds.
- The team informed sources it intends to release Gipson on Wednesday, days after the season-opening loss and the fumble that swung momentum.
- Aaron Glenn publicly emphasized discipline after the game, saying the club cannot afford turnovers and that players who hurt the team would not remain on the field.
- Gipson joined the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2023 and returned the game-winning punt in overtime of Week 1 that season; his production since has been limited.
- In the 2024 season, Gipson had six receptions for 39 yards and one receiving touchdown and served as both a kickoff and punt returner.
- Rookie Jamaal Pritchett, who competed with Gipson in training camp and is currently on the practice squad, is now a clear option to handle return duties.
- The decision signals a short leash for special-teams errors under Glenn and may influence how the Jets prioritize roster spots for return specialists moving forward.
Background
Special teams errors often produce outsized consequences in the NFL because they can change field position and momentum in an instant. The Jets entered the 2025 season with Aaron Glenn emphasizing discipline and situational awareness after offseason conversations about consistency across all three phases of the game. Gipson earned roster spots with big plays—most notably a 2023 Week 1 overtime punt return—yet struggled to build regular offensive production as a receiver.
Training camp in 2025 narrowed a competition for the returner and reserve receiver role between Gipson and rookie Jamaal Pritchett. The Jets kept Gipson going into the regular season, but the margin for error in that role is thin: returners must protect the ball on contact and simultaneously offer value as multi-purpose contributors on offense or special teams coverage. The team’s front office and coaching staff have shown a willingness in recent seasons to make swift roster changes when mistakes reappear on game day.
Main Event
Pittsburgh scored to open the fourth quarter, and on the kickoff that followed, Gipson fumbled while returning the ball to the Jets’ side of the field. The ball was turned over at New York’s 22-yard line, and two plays later Aaron Rodgers’ pass connected with Calvin Austin for an 18-yard touchdown that put Pittsburgh ahead 31-26. Those two possessions effectively shifted control and momentum to the Steelers late in the game.
The Jets mounted efforts to respond but ultimately fell 34-32. In the locker room and during his postgame comments, Glenn singled out turnovers and discipline as decisive factors. He said the club could not accept self-inflicted mistakes and suggested consequences would follow for players whose errors cost games.
Sources told reporters the organization intended to release Gipson on Wednesday, a roster move that would clear space and open the door for alternatives from the practice squad or free-agent market. Jamaal Pritchett, who lost the training-camp battle to Gipson, remains on the practice squad and is the leading internal candidate to take over return duties.
Analysis & Implications
Personnel: Cutting Gipson removes a player with return upside who has shown playmaking ability but inconsistent ball security and limited offensive snaps. The Jets must choose whether to promote from within (Pritchett) or chase an experienced return specialist on the open market. Either path will alter the roster composition and could cost a depth receiver or special-teams contributor.
Coaching message: Aaron Glenn’s swift response underscores a broader organizational emphasis on discipline. Teams that prioritize turnover avoidance often accept short-term turbulence if they believe steady decision-making improves win probability over a season. This roster move functions as both a practical replacement decision and a signal to the locker room about accountability.
Game impact: The sequence after the fumble—turnover at the 22 and a touchdown two plays later—highlights how special-teams miscues can flip expected outcomes within a single series. For a team with championship aspirations, limiting such swings is crucial; repeated errors in that phase can derail otherwise strong offensive or defensive performances.
Longer-term outlook: If the Jets consolidate return duties under a cleaner ball-handler, they may gain steadier field-position outcomes. Conversely, frequent roster churn at returner can disrupt timing and coverage assignments. The front office will weigh immediate needs against the development of young players in deciding whether to sign a veteran or promote Pritchett.
Comparison & Data
| Season | Notable Gipson Moments | Offensive Stats |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Made roster as undrafted free agent; returned game-winning punt in Week 1 OT vs Bills | Limited offensive usage (rookie) |
| 2024 | Returned kickoffs and punts; depth receiver role | 6 receptions, 39 yards, 1 TD |
| 2025 (to date) | Fumbled kickoff on Sept. 7, 2025 vs Steelers; team loss 34-32 | Season opener appearance; roster status changed |
The table above summarizes Gipson’s trajectory: early special-teams heroics, limited receiving snaps, and a costly mistake in the 2025 opener. That sequence explains why the Jets opted for a quick roster adjustment—special-teams reliability often outweighs occasional big plays when roster spots are scarce.
Reactions & Quotes
“We can’t have turnovers. We have to be a more disciplined team,” Aaron Glenn said after the game, linking ball security directly to the loss and warning of consequences for repeated errors.
Aaron Glenn, New York Jets head coach (postgame press conference)
Analysts and observers noted that a single special-teams turnover can produce immediate scoring opportunities and change a game’s trajectory in under a minute, a dynamic seen clearly in the Sept. 7 sequence.
Independent special-teams analysts (postgame commentary)
Fans and commentators reacted quickly on social channels, debating whether the Jets should promote rookie Jamaal Pritchett from the practice squad or pursue an outside return specialist to stabilize the unit.
Public reaction (social media and sports commentators)
Unconfirmed
- The exact date and formal roster transaction entry for Gipson’s release remained unconfirmed by an official team announcement at the time this article was published.
- Internal disciplinary measures beyond the roster move—such as fines or changes to practice responsibilities—have not been publicly disclosed.
Bottom Line
The Jets’ decision to move on from Xavier Gipson reflects an organizational priority: limit self-inflicted errors that flip momentum and cost games. While Gipson has delivered highlight plays in the past, the turnover in the season opener was decisive enough for the team to opt for an immediate roster change.
For the Jets, the short-term challenge is replacing return duties cleanly; for players and staff, the action reinforces a culture of accountability under Aaron Glenn. How the club fills the vacancy—promoting Jamaal Pritchett or acquiring a veteran—will shape special-teams stability in the near term and signal how the front office balances risk and upside at a thin roster position.