Xavier

Gipson

Gipson was released by the Eagles on Monday and has had a journeyman season. The 24-year-old caught 21 passes for 229 yards and scored a punt return touchdown as a rookie for the Jets in 2023. After a quiet 2024, Gipson began the 2025 season with the Jets and bounced to the Giants, Eagles, and now the Giants again. He joins the practice squad as depth for the Giants’ special teams and wide receiver groups.

Smith took some hard hits and falls in the Eagles’ Week 12 loss to the Cowboys and starts out the week as a non-participant in the team’s Tuesday walkthrough. The Eagles play the Bears on Friday, so Smith’s DNP to start the week is concerning for his game status. Fantasy managers should check back throughout the week; any sort of practice time would be a positive sign for Smith playing in Week 13. WR Xavier Gipson (shoulder) was also a DNP after he was shaken up on a punt return that he fumbled late in Week 12. Jahan Dotson would be next up for targets if Smith cannot go.

Gipson signed with the Jets as a 2023 undrafted free agent, catching 27-of-46 targets for 268 yards and one touchdown in his time there. He’s averaged 26.0 yards per kickoff return on 44 career returns and 8.9 yards per punt return on 68 punt returns. He is likely to contribute on special teams again with the Giants.

Gipson lost a kick return fumble in the fourth quarter of New York’s Week 1 loss to the Steelers, sealing his fate with the Jets. Head coach Aaron Glenn said after the game that the team could not afford turnovers; Gipson’s fumble was the lone turnover of the game for the Jets. Gipson, 24, is in his third NFL season. He’s operated as a kick returner and rotational wideout for New York over that stretch. Gipson could catch on with a returner-needy team in the coming weeks.

This comes a day after the Jets traded Mike Williams to the Steelers after Williams ran a wrong route a few weeks ago in a loss to the Bills. Corley had an 18-yard rush last week against the Texans, and has just one catch on the season. The 65th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, Corley could mix in with the New York offense as a slot option but won’t be fantasy relevant. Gipson, a kick returner who has four catches on seven targets this season, could also see an uptick in playing time.

We’ll likely know the specifics of Gipson’s injury in the coming days, but the second-year UDFA was seen hobbling off the field during Thursday’s practice and is now expected to miss some time. Gipson is expected to challenge rookie Malachi Corley for snaps as the Jets’ starting slot receiver, but the time missed due to this injury could give Corley the inside edge come Week 1. Gipson caught 21 passes for 229 yards and one touchdown as a rookie and also served as the team’s primary kick and punt returner. Even if he loses the competition for starting slot receiver, he should see plenty of work on special teams this season.

Corley was selected by the Jets in the third round after totaling 79 receptions for 984 yards and 11 touchdowns during his final year at Western Kentucky. In 2022, the versatile receiver ripped off a 101-1,295-11 line and had a well-renowned reputation for his physical style of play and ability to create after the catch. While second-year UDFA Xavier Gipson has been rumored as the early favorite to earn the role as the Jets’ primary slot receiver, Corley should eventually take hold of that role during the season, if not much sooner.

Hughes went on to say, “Rookie Malachi Corley will work as a slot/gadget/returner,” though his early-third-round draft capital and post-catch quicks should earn him a role soon enough. Gipson, a 2023 undrafted free agent, makes for a reasonable rookie hurdle. Among NFL returners with at least 15 total returns, Gipson ranks and ties 13th in both yards per kickoff return (23.3) and yards per punt return (9.7), respectively, and his 55 total returns ranks No. 1. He averaged 10.9 yards per reception on 21 receptions but his 0.67 yards per route run belies his moderate receiving successes.

An undrafted rookie out of small-school Stephen F. Austin, 22-year-old Gipson became a Hard Knocks star before rather improbably going on to suit up for all 17 games. He caught “just” 21 passes, but that’s a good outcome for someone with Gipson’s pedigree. Considering the Jets’ totally barren receiver depth chart behind Garrett Wilson, it’s certainly possible Gipson ends up hanging around in the top 3-4 next year. With Aaron Rodgers coming back, Gipson is worth an end-of-bench stash in Dynasty leagues.

Gipson, with Allen Lazard (illness) inactive, ran a full route share and was third among Jets pass catchers in targets. The speedy Gipson has functioned as the team’s No. 2 wideout when Lazard is out. He would be a deep league option next week against the Patriots if Lazard remains sidelined.