Rich CiminiSep 10, 2025, 08:39 AM ET
- Rich Cimini is a staff writer who covers the New York Jets and the NFL at ESPN. Rich has covered the Jets for over 30 years, joining ESPN in 2010. Rich also hosts the Flight Deck podcast. He previously was a beat writer for the New York Daily News and is a graduate of Syracuse University.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- New York Jets coach Aaron Glenn insisted he wasn't trying to send a message, but his decision to release Xavier Gipson on Wednesday after his costly fumble in the season opener will be perceived as a statement move.
Gipson's mistake loomed large in the Jets' 34-32 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Replacing kickoff returner Kene Nwangwu, who injured a hamstring early in the game, Gipson fumbled at the Jets' 22-yard line early in the fourth quarter. The Steelers converted the turnover into a touchdown to take a 31-26 lead.
"I want it to be known that the decisions that are made are not rash decisions and never based off one incident, and I'll keep it at that," Glenn said Wednesday. "Xavier's a really good player -- he's going to play in this league -- but I thought it was time for us to move on in another direction. So I'll leave it at that."
Glenn, a first-year coach, has preached accountability -- something many felt was lacking under the previous regime. Glenn bemoaned the team's turnovers after Sunday's loss and declared: "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."
On Wednesday, Glenn said "there's accountability in everything we do," stressing that "a number of things" led up to the decision on Gipson, not one bad play.
Gipson had been the Jets' primary punt returner after making the team as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He was challenged for a roster spot this summer, edging out rookie Jamaal Pritchett for the punt returner job. Nwangwu won the kickoff return job in the preseason.
After the game, Gipson acknowledged it was "the worst time to fumble" but added, "[My teammates] know what I can do. They believe in me; the coaches believe in me. That being said, that's the worst situation I could put my team in."
Gipson's Jets career was framed by two Aaron Rodgers debuts. In Rodgers' ill-fated Jets debut in 2023, when he ruptured his left Achilles on the fourth snap, Gipson beat the Buffalo Bills in overtime with a punt return touchdown.
On Sunday, with Rodgers debuting with the Steelers, it was Gipson's fumble that changed the game.
In two-plus seasons, Gipson fumbled 10 times in various roles. He finished with 27 receptions for 268 yards and one touchdown.
The Jets signed wide receiver/returner Isaiah Williams off the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad in a corresponding move. Williams, who has 11 career punt returns, is the favorite to replace Gipson in that role. Pritchett, on the Jets' practice squad, also will be considered.
With Nwangwu unlikely to play against the Bills on Sunday, Williams also could get the nod as a kickoff returner, where he would join Arian Smith or Isaiah Davis.
Also, rookie tight end Mason Taylor is dealing with an ankle injury that kept him out of practice Wednesday.
Taylor, the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor, missed just over a week during training camp after suffering what the team said was a high ankle sprain. Glenn said the current issue is to the same ankle and added that the team is "managing" Taylor's injury.
The second-round pick out of LSU had a 20-yard reception on his only target in his NFL debut.
Defensive tackle Jay Tufele also sat out Wednesday to handle a personal matter.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
