The Philadelphia Eagles have added another familiar face to their practice squad, signing wide receiver and return specialist Xavier Gipson on Friday.
The move, first reported by Eagles insider Zach Berman, comes as the team continues to shape its depth heading into the regular season.
In a corresponding transaction, Philadelphia placed practice-squad wideout Danny Gray on injured reserve.
Gipson’s path back to the Eagles is a reminder of how quickly roles can shift in the NFL. The 25-year-old Dallas product first reached the league as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets after a standout career at Stephen F. Austin, where he piled up more than 4,300 receiving yards and 37 touchdowns.
He stuck with the Jets through his first three seasons, carving out work as a returner while occasionally contributing as a receiver.
After being waived following Week 1 this year, he was claimed by the New York Giants, released ahead of Week 3, and later brought back to their practice squad. He was among the Giants’ final cuts after the preseason.
Last season he appeared in seven games and recorded two receptions for six yards. His value has always been more pronounced on special teams.
Across his career, he has handled both punts and kickoffs, returning eight punts for 86 yards and 12 kickoffs for 319 yards in 2025 alone. Those numbers sit inside a larger body of work that includes a punt-return touchdown and solid average yards per return.
The Eagles already know what they are getting. Gipson spent part of the 2025 season in Philadelphia after being claimed off waivers, appearing in multiple games and working within the same special-teams structure he will rejoin now.
That prior exposure should shorten his learning curve as he competes for a possible elevation if injuries or performance create an opening on the 53-man roster.
For a club that prizes versatility and special-teams reliability, Gipson offers a low-risk, high-familiarity option. Practice-squad signings rarely generate headlines, yet they often determine how a team absorbs midseason attrition.
Gray’s placement on injured reserve created an immediate need at receiver and returner; Gipson fills both boxes without requiring a lengthy adjustment period.
Whether he remains a depth piece or forces his way onto the active roster will depend on how quickly he re-acclimates and how the Eagles’ receiving and return units hold up.
For now, the transaction simply restores a player the organization has already evaluated in-house, giving Philadelphia another body who understands the building and the scheme. In a league that turns over rosters constantly, that kind of continuity still matters.
