The Jets added a couple of players to their injury report on Thursday, including cornerback Sauce Gardner.
Gardner was a limited participant in practice due to a groin injury. His status for Sunday’s game against the Bills will be updated on Friday and his absence would be a blow for a Jets defense that struggled against the Steelers last weekend.
Wide receiver Josh Reynolds was the other addition and he did not participate in practice at all. Reynolds has a hamstring injury.
Kick returner Kene Nwangnu (hamstring) and defensive tackle Jay Tufele (illness) also missed practice.
Tight end Mason Taylor (ankle) moved up to limited practice after sitting out on Wednesday. Cornerback Michael Carter (shoulder) remained in the limited category while linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball (calf) and offensive lineman Chuks Okarafor (hand) were full participants.
Xavier Gipson won’t have to even move.
Released by the Jets, Gipson was claimed on waivers by the Giants.
The release happened in the aftermath of a Week 1 fumble on a kickoff return that sparked Pittsburgh’s victory at MetLife Stadium. Jets coach Aaron Glenn told reporters that the move wasn’t trying to send a message by releasing Gipson.
Gipson made the Jets’ roster in 2023 as an undrafted free agent from Stephen F. Austin. He appeared in 17 games in each of his two seasons with the Jets.
Despite the fumble, he returned five kickoffs and gained 142 yards on Sunday.
For his career, Gipson has returned 44 kickoffs and 33 punts. He has averaged 8.9 yards per punt return, and 26.0 yards per kickoff return.
Gunner Olszewski is listed as the No. 1 punt and kickoff returner for the Giants. He’s also the No. 2 slot receiver.
The Bills have added one of their most important defensive pieces to their injury report.
Defensive tackle Ed Oliver did not participate in Thursday’s session due to an ankle injury, according to the team’s practice report.
The Bills held a walk-through on Thursday in lieu of a full practice.
Moreover, multiple reporters note Oliver had a walking boot on his left foot and was using a scooter.
Head coach Sean McDermott is slated to speak to the media again on Friday morning. But missing Thursday practice and being spotted with a walking boot is not the most positive sign for Oliver’s potential availability for the Week 2 matchup against the Jets.
Oliver had an impactful Week 1 performance against the Ravens, finishing with six total tackles, a sack, a forced fumble, two QB hits, and three tackles for loss.
The Bills also added defensive back Jordan Hancock (shoulder) to the report as a limited participant on Thursday.
Running back James Cook, however, was upgraded from limited on Wednesday to full on Thursday with his hamstring issue. Cornerback Brandon Codrington (knee) was also upgraded to full, while cornerback Christian Benford (groin) and receiver Keon Coleman (groin) remained full.
Cornerback Taron Johnson (quad) and linebacker Shaq Thompson (hamstring/hand) were upgraded from non-participants to limited. Tight end Dawson Knox (hip), defensive end Greg Rousseau (knee), and cornerback Tre’Davious White (groin) remained limited.
The Bills have an injury concern with one of their key offensive players.
Running back James Cook was limited in Wednesday’s practice with a hamstring injury.
As of Wednesday afternoon, there’s no word on the severity of Cook’s hamstring issue, including whether it might cause him to miss time.
Cook was on the field for 48 of Buffalo’s 85 offensive snaps in Sunday night’s comeback victory over Baltimore. He had 13 carries for 44 yards with a touchdown plus five catches for 58 yards.
Tight end Dawson Knox (hip) and defensive end Gregory Rousseau (knee) were also new on the injury report for Wednesday. Both players were limited.
Cornerback Taron Johnson (quad) and linebacker Shaq Thompson (hamstring/hand) did not participate.
Cornerback Brandon Codrington (knee) and cornerback Tre’Davious White (groin) were limited.
Cornerback Christian Benford (groin) and receiver Keon Coleman (groin) were full participants.
Xavier Gipson fumbled a kickoff at the New York 22-yard line early in the fourth quarter, and the Steelers converted the turnover into a touchdown and a 31-26 lead.
The Jets released Gipson on Wednesday, sending a message even if that wasn’t coach Aaron Glenn’s intent with the move.
“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 said, via Rich Cimini of ESPN. “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.”
Glenn has made it clear that “there’s accountability in everything we do,” a mantra he reiterated again Wednesday.
“You will not be on the field with this team if you’re going to cause us to lose games, if you’re going to cause issues like that,” Glenn said.
Gipson fumbled 10 times in his two-plus seasons with the Jets.
They signed Isaiah Williams of the Bengals’ practice squad in a corresponding move. Williams or rookie Jamaal Pritchett, who is on the practice squad, will handle return duties this week with primary kickoff returner Kene Nwangwu unlikely to play with a hamstring injury that forced him out of Sunday’s game.
