The New York Jets are releasing Xavier Gipson just one game into the new season after he lost a key fumble in their opening defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

According to the New York Post's Brian Costello, the wide receiver has been brutally cut almost two-and-a-half years since he was signed by the Jets as an undrafted free agent.

Gipson, whose spot on the roster was already in doubt during training camp, fumbled a kickoff return at the start of the fourth quarter in Sunday's curtain-raiser, before Pittsburgh took advantage of the short field with a second touchdown in the space of 50 seconds to move 31-26 ahead.

In the end the fumble proved costly as the Jets were narrowly beaten 34-32 by a Steelers outfit led by their former quarterback Aaron Rodgers at MetLife Stadium.

And it has ultimately cost the 24-year-old his job, with head coach Aaron Glenn and general manager Darren Mougey deciding to move him on after one game.

Yet Glenn, who was left fuming with the number of 'undisciplined' mistakes his team made on Sunday, insists the decision was not based off his fumble alone.

'I want it to be known that the decisions that are made are not rash decisions and never based off one incident, and I’ll keep it at that,' Glenn told reporters on Wednesday.

'Xavier’s a really good player - he’s going to play in this league - but I thought it was time for us to move on in another direction. So I’ll leave it at that.'

Gipson instantly became a hero in New York after his game-winning punt return on his debut against the Buffalo Bills back in 2023, yet he has not had much production since then - recording just six catches for 39 yards and a touchdown last season.

The Jets kept him on the roster after his training camp battle with rookie Jamaal Pritchett for the returner/backup receiver spot, and while he is currently on the practice squad the latter is now an option in his absence.