A total of 40 pigs (10.7 ± 1.2 kg initial BW at 6 wk of age) were used in a 21 d trial to evaluate the effects of supplemental xylanase (Huvepharma Inc., Peachtree City, GA) in nursery diets on digesta viscosity, gut health, and growth performance. Pigs were individually housed and randomly allotted to 4 dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (n = 10 per treatment, 0 or 1,500 EPU/kg xylanase and 0 or 30% DDGS as 2 factors). Body weight and feed intake were recorded weekly. Plasma samples were collected on d 19 to measure tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and malondialdehyde (MDA). On d 21, all pigs were euthanized to collect tissues from duodenum, jejunum, and colon for morphology and to measure TNF-α, and MDA concentrations. Distal jejunal digesta were collected to measure viscosity. During the entire period, supplementation of xylanase increased (P < 0.05) ADG (616 to 660 g/d) of nursery pigs whereas DDGS (0 or 30%) did not affect ADG (628 vs. 648 g/d, respectively). There was no interaction between the 2 factors indicating that the effect of xylanase on ADG was independent to the use of DDGS in the nursery feed. On wk 3, ADFI was increased (P < 0.05) when fed DDGS (1,141 to 1,267 g/d) and there was an interaction (P < 0.05) between 2 factors indicating that xylanase decreased ADFI when DDGS was used in the feed. Use of DDGS increased (P < 0.05) viscosity (1.86 to 2.38 cP), whereas supplemental xylanase reduced (P < 0.05) viscosity (2.27 to 1.96 cP) of jejunal digesta. Plasma TNF-α was decreased (P < 0.05, 108.45 to 69.87 ng/mL) by supplemental xylanase. Use of DDGS reduced (P < 0.05) villus height:crypt depth ratio (1.46 to 1.27) in duodenum. Supplemental xylanase increased (P < 0.05) the crypt depth (360 to 404 µm) in duodenum. Collectively, this study indicates that supplemental xylanase (1,500 EPU/kg) improved growth performance and inflammatory status of nursery pigs by reducing digesta viscosity and plasma TNF-α regardless of the use of DDGS in nursery diets.