EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The New York Giants claimed wide receiver/return specialist Xavier Gipson off waivers from the Jets on Thursday, a day after he was cut following a costly fumble on a kickoff return in the season opener.
Linebacker Micah McFadden was also placed on injured reserve by the Giants with a foot injury suffered in New York's season-opening loss at Washington on Sunday.
Gipson was returning a kickoff in place of the injured Kene Nwangwu on Sunday when he had the momentum-changing
mistake in the Jets’ 34-32 loss to Pittsburgh.
After the Steelers scored to make it a two-point game early in the fourth quarter, Gipson fumbled on the ensuing kickoff. Pittsburgh recovered and the Steelers took the lead two plays later on Aaron Rodgers’ second TD throw in a 50-second span.
Jets coach Aaron Glenn said Wednesday the decision to waive Gipson wasn’t based on that play alone, although he had said after the game that players that cause mistakes in losses won't be on the field with New York.
Gipson has 10 fumbles in 35 games since signing with the Jets as an undrafted free agent out of Stephen F. Austin in 2023. He returned a punt 65 yards for the winning touchdown in overtime to beat Buffalo in the season opener that year — the game during which Rodgers went down with a torn Achilles tendon four snaps into his debut for New York.
The 24-year-old Gipson had 27 catches for 268 yards and a touchdown with the Jets, along with 73 yards rushing and a TD on nine carries. He averaged 8.9 yards on punt returns and 26 yards on kickoffs.
The Giants used Gunner Olszewski and Wan’Dale Robinson as their kickoff returners against Washington, and Olszewski ran back punts.
McFadden was carted off the field midway through the first quarter of the Giants' 21-6 loss to Washington. Coach Brian Daboll said earlier in the week that McFadden didn't break his right leg after that was the initial concern, but the linebacker will be sidelined at least four weeks with his injury after going on IR.
McFadden, in the final year of his rookie contract, had a breakout season for the Giants last year. After leaving the game, he was replaced by second-year linebacker Darius Muasau.
McFadden, a fifth-round pick out of Indiana in 2022, has 270 total tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, 15 quarterback hits and an interception in 48 games, including 36 starts.
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