An under-the-radar roster battle is starting to take shape in Florham Park, and it could be a major factor in how the New York Jets’ special teams unit looks in 2025.
Undrafted rookie wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett has impressed throughout training camp and is making a legitimate push to unseat incumbent punt returner Xavier Gipson before Week 1.
The Athletic’s Zack Rosenblatt reported Thursday that Pritchett “continues to stand out,” while highlighting a slick catch-and-run from back-up quarterback Adrian Martinez. Head coach Aaron Glenn called him a “smaller guy” who “has some fight in him,” even praising his willingness to mix it up as a blocker.
Kene Nwangwu is the favorite to handle kick return duties, but the punt return job could decide whether either Pritchett or Gipson survives final cuts. Expect that battle to take center stage in tonight's preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers.
Jamaal Pritchett is pushing Xavier Gipson for a Jets roster spot
Gipson’s path to the NFL coincidentally mirrors the one Pritchett is trying to follow. Originally signed as an undrafted free agent out of Stephen F. Austin in 2023, Gipson earned a roster spot with his preseason performance and delivered one of the Jets’ most memorable moments in recent years — a walk-off punt return touchdown in his debut against Buffalo.
He held the punt return role throughout 2024, leading the NFL with 33 returns, but his 8.1-yard average ranked just 8th among 11 qualifiers. As a receiver, Gipson managed only six catches for 39 yards in 17 games, although he did score his first professional receiving touchdown.
Gipson's path to a 53-man roster spot will come via special teams, and with a new coaching staff in town, he will have to prove he deserves a place on the team. Pritchett is already giving him a run for his money.
The former South Alabama standout was signed by the Jets as an undrafted free agent this spring after a standout 2024 season in which he led the Sun Belt in receiving yards and tied the school record for touchdowns.
At 5-foot-8 and 175 pounds, he’s one of the smallest players on the roster, but his speed and quickness have been evident throughout camp. He's carried over the momentum from a strong spring into an impressive performance so far this summer.
Tonight's preseason opener will offer Pritchett an opportunity to make a solid first impression on his new coaches. It's the same opportunity Gipson took full advantage of just two years ago.
For Gipson, it will be an opportunity to prove he can hold off a challenger. For Pritchett, it’s the next step in an unexpected rise that could end with him taking over the team's punt returner job.
Two years ago, Gipson was the undersized undrafted rookie trying to win a roster spot through special teams. Now, he’s the one looking over his shoulder as Pritchett hopes to follow that same path.
More NY Jets news and analysis: