Jets take an unexpected draft position hit after ex-player’s brutal blunder

Xavier Gipson hasn’t worn a New York Jets uniform since Week 1, but somehow, he’s still finding new ways to make life harder for his former team.

Gipson, who was released by the Jets after his disastrous two-fumble opener against Pittsburgh, committed yet another special teams blunder on Sunday, this time as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. And while the mistake may not hurt the Eagles as much as it could’ve, it absolutely hurt the Jets.

Midway through the fourth quarter of a tied 21-21 game, the Eagles forced a punt and looked poised to get the ball back in a favorable situation. Instead, Gipson made an inexplicable decision, fielding the punt at his own 2-yard line and returning it just 10 yards before getting drilled and coughing the ball up in the process.

Dallas recovered deep in Eagles territory, and although Philadelphia's defense managed a fourth-and-goal stop, the damage was effectively done. The Cowboys went on to win, pushing their record to 5-5-1.

Xavier Gipson continues to find ways to haunt the Jets

That result could matter a great deal to the Jets, who own Dallas’s 2026 second-round pick. A Cowboys loss could’ve vaulted that pick into the top 10 of the round with another loss next week.

Instead, they now sit 13th, with a chance to climb as high as 18th next week. One Gipson error may have altered the value of the Jets’ draft capital in a not-so-insignificant way.

And it’s not even the first time Gipson has done this this month. He muffed a punt just last week. In fact, since joining the Eagles, he’s averaging only 25 yards per kick return and 12 yards per punt return with multiple muffs and now a game-altering fumble.

Meanwhile, the Jets have found explosiveness and success without him. Kene Nwangwu leads the NFL in kick-return average and is Pro Football Focus' highest-graded returner. Isaiah Williams has settled in as a dependable option on both kicks and punts. The Jets don’t miss Gipson one bit.

But somehow, even after being released by two teams (along with the New York Giants) this season, Gipson’s mistakes continue to find their way back to Florham Park’s doorstep. And Sunday’s decision might cost him yet another job — and cost the Jets once again in the draft standings.