Jets ‘tricked’ receiver into thinking he missed team, now it’s clear they have big plans for this rookie

NJ Advance Media for NJ. com Undrafted rookie receiver Xavier Gipson knew it was going to be tough to make the Jets roster, no matter how well he played in training camp and the preseason. So even after he performed quite well in training camp and the preseason, he was not surprised when the coaches called him into the facility before roster cutdown day and began the meeting by saying “sorry.

” He was ready to find a way to keep his momentum going. There was still a chance another team had seen enough to claim him off waivers to their 53-man roster, or at the very least he would have the chance to stick on the Jets’ practice squad. He was not ready for what happened next.

“They kind of tricked me into thinking I was going to be released,” Gipson said with a big smile in the locker room Tuesday, as the roster deadline passed. “Then, [coach Robert Saleh] finally said, ‘Man, you made the team. ’ It took a moment for me to take it all in.

” It was the only moment that has been too big for Gipson since training camp started. And hours after he made the initial 53-man roster, a surprise to outsiders after he entered the week seemingly on the roster bubble, it became clear that Gipson was never in jeopardy of being cut this week. In fact, there are more signs the Jets plan to make him a key part of their offense this year, thanks to what we saw on “Hard Knocks” on Tuesday night.

For the first time this year, the show spent a significant part of an episode focusing on the roster-bubble players. And it included a feel-good story about the bond between Gipson and fellow undrafted rookie receiver Jason Brownlee. The duo grew close at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl in January and ended up in the same NFL locker room this spring and summer — it’s a story that feels even better now both made the extremely unlikely journey from unknown and undrafted to making Jets’ initial 53-man roster.

But it’s clear that Gipson especially made quite an impression on his teammates and coaches since April. We got a hint of it after Saturday’s game, when Aaron Rodgers went out of his way to shoutout the young slot receiver. But this episode showed us fully how much of an impression Gipson made on his teammates and coaches.

During a practice, microphones picked up wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni and veteran receiver Randall Cobb talking about the young receiver who was seemingly on the roster bubble. “He’s our kind of player here, man,” Azzanni said to Cobb. “He’s tough.

He’s improving. He wants to be coached hard. He keeps asking me, he’s like, ‘Coach, you know I’m not sensitive.

Don’t worry about me. ’ Damn. I love that.

” They also showed Cobb giving Gipson advice, and admitting to a camera crew that he’s rooting for his young counterpart who played college football at NCAA Division 1 FCS Stephen F. Austin State in Texas. “I’ve got a thing for underdogs, " Cobb said.

" I think that he’s a special player. During his strong showing against the Giants — which included seven catches for 71 yards and a nice punt return — several teammates and coaches were raving about Gipson, including Rodgers. “The kid’s [expletive] good,” Rodgers said at one point, before Cobb approached him to talk about Gipson.

“I’ve been trying to tell y’all, nobody listens to me,” Cobb said. “That’s the 82 I’ve been talking about. He showed it tonight.

” When Gipson’s night was over, Rodgers made a point to greet him on the sideline. “I’m proud of you,” Rodgers said. “Good job.

” And after watching the way Rodgers and everyone else reacted to Gipson in this episode, it sure feels like his roster spot was never actually in question and the Jets have big plans for him this season. .