Jets' Aaron Glenn Makes Blunt Admission About Xavier Gipson Cut
The New York Jets saw an issue and decided to move on quickly.
New York has played just one regular-season game this season and it saw enough to make a change. In the Jets' Week 1 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the team had a rough moment to kick off the fourth quarter. With the Jets holding a 26-24 lead, Xavier Gipson fielded a kickoff at the beginning of the quarter and fumbled it. This arguably was the moment that changed the trajectory of the game.
Pittsburgh got the ball and went on to score a touchdown just a few plays later to take the lead and swing the momentum squarely in the Steelers' favor. Pittsburgh went on to win, 34-32.
Afterward, noise immediately picked up about whether the Jets would make a move. Head coach Aaron Glenn hinted at a change.
The New York Jets aren't waiting around
"The one thing to me that turned this game is man we can’t have turnovers, can’t do it," Glenn said. "We have to be a more disciplined team. Right, there was some penalties that happened in that game that were true discipline issues. That is something that will be addressed because you will not be on the field with this team if you’re gonna cause us to lose games if you’re gonna cause issues like that so we will get that addressed."
Then, on Wednesday, the Jets did make a move and cut ties with Gipson.
Afterward, Glenn commented on the move and gave an insight into why it was made now.
"We’re trying to get the best players on this team that can play a role, and at this point, I just felt like we need to have a change at that spot,” Glenn said. “And it wasn’t just one thing when it comes to accountability, there’s accountability in everything that we do, so I don’t want to just pin it on him fumbling the ball, there were a number of things that led up to this.
“I just felt like it was time to make a change. Darren Mougey and I had conversations about it and we made the change.”
It seems like a tough decision, but the Jets didn't wait around.
Lions Make Final Call on QB Hendon Hooker Ahead of NFL Roster Deadline: Report
The Hendon Hooker era with the Detroit Lions is finished.
NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Monday the Lions have waived the former third-round quarterback. The move comes with Detroit trying to narrow its roster down to 53 players ahead of the league’s roster deadline at 4 pm ET Tuesday.
The Lions moved on from Hooker two days after his Week 3 preseason appearance Saturday. Hooker completed six of 11 passes for 70 yards with no touchdowns and an interception versus the Houston Texans.
NFL pundits project Jared Goff and Kyle Allen to be the team’s top two quarterbacks to begin the season. With the release of Hooker, the Lions will likely not have a third signal-caller on the 53-man roster to start the campaign.
After the preseason finale Saturday, Lions head coach Dan Campbell expressed the possibility of Detroit moving on from Hooker.
“Look, I wish Hooker, and I know he does, would have had a little bit better outing,” said Campbell.
“But it’s also, you’ve got to take it with a grain of salt. It’s not like he was playing with our first O-line out there or first-team skilled positions, all of that. You take all of that into account as well. I thought he was prepared. I thought he was ready. He looked pretty calm. Just circumstances didn’t work out today.”
The Lions drafted Hooker in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. He made three appearances for the team during the 2024 season.
Lions Moving on From QB Hendon Hooker
What the Lions would do with Hooker before 2025 has been a discussion point around the team’s quarterback room and roster for months.
Woodward Sports Network’s Sean Balligan strongly argued on July 3 that Hooker wouldn’t make the Lions 53-man roster after the preseason.
The Lions have yet to announce any roster cuts as official. But the team’s decision to part with the 27-year-old quarterback could have as much to do with the entire roster than it does with his play.
“Maybe there’s room to grow. Okay, well is that worth it for the depth that we need at O-line, D-line, receiver, DB,” Campbell said Saturday while discussing Hooker and all roster decisions the team faces. “And so, those are all things you’ve got to weigh.”
Hooker Could Get ‘Change of Scenery’ With Another NFL Team
Campbell made one other notable comment while discussing Hooker on Saturday.
“How much development do you believe there is. Alright. Because look, we’re talking about Hooker right now,” said Campbell.
“How much development do you believe there still is. Sometimes, does a player need a change of scenery?”
Campbell didn’t directly state Hooker needs a change of scenery, but it appeared implied. That’s what the quarterback will get should he receive another opportunity with a different NFL team this fall.
The Lions drafted Hooker at No. 68 overall in the third round just two and a half years ago. Detroit selected Hooker despite the fact he suffered an ACL tear five months before the draft.
Hooker didn’t played and participated in practice only at the end of the season in 2023.
In three games last season, Hooker completed six of nine passes for 62 yards. He also rushed for two yards and had one sack.
