As an undrafted, undersized player from a small college, Xavier Gipson faced an uphill battle in trying to make the Jets’ roster. A strong showing in the preseason (seven catches for 79 yards in the exhibition finale against the Giants, along with some nifty plays as a kick returner) improved Gipson’s chances of being on the final 53-man roster, but he still had reason to be nervous when he was called into a meeting with coach Robert Saleh and general manager Joe Douglas on cut day.
Cameras from HBO’s Hard Knocks have been shadowing the Jets this preseason and captured Gipson’s tense conversation with Saleh and Douglas.
“Well, look, man,” Douglas started off by telling Gipson, “you know, the odds are stacked against you from the jump.”
With an opener like that, Gipson must have thought he was getting cut. But no! Douglas was just messing with him. Gipson did make the final roster. When he heard the news, the relief on his face was obvious.
“Why did you scare me like that?” he asked.
The best part of #HardKnocks? Seeing guys like @nyjets rookie WR Xavier Gipson find out they made the team. 🥹 @Gipson22X
— NFL (@NFL) September 5, 2023
New #HardKnocks tonight at 10pm ET on @StreamOnMax pic.twitter.com/BsNpWFq4OE
Gipson, a 5'9" receiver from FCS Stephen F. Austin, told reporters last week after he heard the news that he really thought he was about to be sent packing.
“They kind of tricked me into thinking I was going to be released,” Gipson said. “Then, [Saleh] finally said, ‘Man, you made the team.’ It took a moment for me to take it all in.”
It’s great that Hard Knocks was there to capture the moment. Watching the emotion wash over Gipson’s face was way better than hearing him recount the moment after the fact.
