Xavier Gipson Happy to Be Where He Is with the Jets

This year “X,” as he’s universally referred to around the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center, can be confident of his place on the team — as a wide receiver and special teams demon — during his 20-minute drives to Florham Park.

“It’s kind of crazy because I had a similar feeling I’m having every year in the NFL,” Gipson, 23, told team reporter Ethan Greenberg on Tuesday as the team was preparing to unveil its 53-man regular-season roster on the league’s cut-down day. “So, it’s kind of crazy having a feeling, even though people say I’m good, but I still got the same mindset of coming in, still trying to earn a spot. It’s kind of crazy.”

He added: “I feel like I was here yesterday.”

Gipson (5-9, 189) appeared in all 17 games last season. As a receiver, he caught 21 passes (on 38 targets) for 229 yards (10.9 a catch). He also ran the ball 8 times for 68 yards including a 9-yard TD in the Jets’ 30-6 win over Houston in Week 14. But it was on special teams that Gipson made his most significant impact — 33 punt returns for 319 yards (9.7 per) and 22 kickoff returns for 511 yards (23.2 per).

And although he did not return a punt or kickoff in the recently completed preseason, he said he’s excited to get a shot at returning a kickoff under the league’s new “dynamic” scheme.

“I feel like I learned a lot from last year from the kickoff perspective,” he said. “It’s a little bit different this year, so I’m pumped to see what’s in store with the new kickoff return.”

Asked what he thinks he’ll bring to the play, Gipson said: “My speed and my quickness. Just to try and hit the holes as fast as I can get positive plus-40, plus-50, maybe hopefully a touchdown, you know, and live with it.”