When the Jets lined up for warm-ups against Philly, one thing jumped out right away: Xavier Gipson wasn’t out there. No pads, no running routes, no energy bouncing around the field. For a roster that counts on his juice in the return game, it felt like someone had pulled the plug before kickoff. What’s behind the absence? And what does it mean for the Jets, so close to week 1?

Yeah, no one’s getting a full picture on his absence until after the post-game presser; however, one can’t help but assume that it is something injury-related. This goes back to the Giants game a week earlier, when Gipson left early after tweaking his shoulder. The puzzling part?

Gipson was a full go in practice earlier this week. Taking everything into account, it would make perfect sense if the Jets do not want to risk him for tonight’s game. They’re doing everything they can to get him up and ready for the Steelers, which includes not suiting him up tonight against the Eagles. Yes, that’s how The Jet Press highlighted on X: “No Xavier Gipson tonight. Could be injury-related, but he did return to practice this week.”

The breadcrumbs are there: ESPN’s injury log still had Gipson tagged as questionable, hinting he was easing back instead of greenlit for full contact. Add in word that he’d been back at practice, and sitting him tonight feels less like panic, more like the usual August calculation: protect the body, aim for Week 1.

And honestly? Good for the Jets, because Gipson needs that rest to prepare him for the Steelers. The third-year Jet is far more than a depth wideout. Last year, he recorded 489 yards on 17 kick returns (28.8 per clip, near the top of the league) and returned 33 punts for 266 yards, giving the Jets steady juice in a role that flips games.

On offense, Gipson’s touches were rather limited in 2024: Six grabs for 39 yards and a score on 10 targets. But his special-teams impact makes him worth bubble-wrapping if that shoulder is anything less than full strength. So who’s replacing him for tonight?

Jamaal Pritchett steps in vs the Eagles, replacing Xavier Gipson

With Xavier Gipson out, the spotlight shifted to Jamaal Pritchett, who essentially slid into the return duties that usually belong to the third-year sparkplug. Pritchett’s in the thick of what they called a “wide-open competition” at receiver, and tonight was his shot to showcase while Gipson works back from that shoulder setback.

Pritchett had already shown he could handle the work on special teams, breaking off a 23-yard kick return and fielding four punts for 33 yards last week. Nothing flashy, but enough to prove he won’t flinch when the ball’s in the air. That track record gave New York a little breathing room as he stepped into Gipson’s spot against the Eagles. And in the game, he led the Jets with 54 yards receiving on 4 catches, and he averaged 21 yards on three punt returns. Yeah, Aaron Glenn was watching.

However, the troubling sight was: After a 45-yard punt from Braden Mann, Pritchett misplayed the ball, fumbling on the return before managing to recover it himself for no gain in the 11th minute of the first quarter.

Yeah, it’s just preseason. But for Jamaal? It’s a lot more. You can go as far as arguing that this game might just be the deciding factor of what his role will look like ahead of the season.