Steelers Now
The New York Jets released wide receiver and kick returner Xavier Gipson on Wednesday, after his fumble on a kickoff return cost his team in a 34-32 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1.
Gipson was placed on waivers on Wednesday, according to the NFL transactions page. The receiver had been in his third season with the team after joining the Jets as an undrafted free gent out of Stephen F. Austin in 2023.
In the fourth quarter of the game between the Steelers and Jets at MetLife Stadium on Sunday, Pittsburgh drew to within one score with 15 minutes to play when Aaron Rodgers hit running back Jaylen Warren for a 5-yard touchdown.
One the ensuing kickoff, Kenneth Gainwell sent a flying punch in toward the football as Gipson was crossing his own 20-yard line. The Gainwell hit did not knock down Gpson, but it jarred the ball, and Steelers wide receiver Ben Skowronek was there to pounce on it.
Two plays later, Rodgers hit Calvin Austin III for a touchdown and the Steelers had the lead after trailing by 12 just moments earlier.
New Jets coach Aaron Glenn said that Gipson was not released solely because of his fumble against Pittsburgh.
“I want it to be known that decisions that’s made are not rash decisions and never based off of one incident, and I will keep it at that,” Glenn said. ”Xavier’s a really good player—and he’s going to play in this league—but I felt it was time for us to move on in another direction. So I’ll leave it at that.”
"Decisions that are made are not rash decisions. They're never based off of one incident. I will keep it at that."
Aaron Glenn explains the Jets' release of Xavier Gipson: pic.twitter.com/8Kn8RsIvpV
— Jets Videos (@snyjets) September 10, 2025
Gipson acknowledged the error, which was the 10th fumble of his career, in speaking after the game.
“That’s the worst situation I could put my team in,” he said.
Isaiah Davis, Kene Nwangwu, Arian Smith and Isaiah Williams are the Jets’ other kick return options
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: NY Jets Cut Kick Returner after Costly Fumble vs. Steelers
