Cade Klubnik makes his Jets backup case in surprise preseason start: Hell of a job
Well, we know the Jets offense can move the ball on the Buccaneers backups, even with their second-string quarterback. The Jets were without starting quarterback Geno Smith, who is dealing with an ankle injury, Friday night and that left rookie Cade Klubnik to start the preseason opener against Tampa Bay.Text with Brian Costello all season as he brings Sports+ subscribers the latest Jets intel from on the field and off.
Klubnik was surrounded by the rest of the starting offense and led a 12-play drive that ended with a field goal.He then got a series with the backups and they scored a touchdown on four plays. In all, Klubnik went 5-for-7 for 56 yards on 16 snaps.
The performance increased his chances of winning the backup quarterback job.Those chances jumped up even more when Bailey Zappe replaced Klubnik and threw two interceptions, one that was returned for a touchdown. Jets coach Aaron Glenn said Klubnik was “champing at the bit” to play and was excited when he told him Thursday that he would be starting.
Glenn called it a “thumbs up” for Klubnik. “I thought he did a hell of a job, not getting a lot of reps with the ones [in practice],” Glenn said.“I give him a lot of credit for going out there and operating the way that he did.” Klubnik’s performance was a highlight, but other than that the Jets did not get many answers about their team since the Buccaneers sat all of their starters and Smith did not play in the 24-16 loss. Smith was a surprise scratch before the game.
Glenn said Smith has a “sore ankle” and is day to day.The Jets could have used a series or two to feel good about their offense after some rough joint practices this week against the Buccaneers. The Jets went 65 yards in 12 plays on the opening drive but the drive stalled on the 9-yard line and Cade York kicked a 27-yard field goal to make it 3-0.
Klubnik looked comfortable on the drive outside of a botched handoff.His first pass was a 12-yard completion to t...