Cade Klubnik went from a sure thing to a massive question mark for the Jets’ backup quarterback spot behind Geno Smith in just a few short weeks, and it all blew up in the preseason finale against the Giants. What a difference a couple of games make, huh? This kid was penciled in, but after a “shaky performance” that ended the preseason, the coaching staff is clearly hitting the brakes on that assumption.
Klubnik’s Finale Flop Leaves Coach Glenn Unimpressed
Jets head coach Aaron Glenn didn’t mince words after the Giants game, calling Klubnik’s performance “up and down.” He admitted the rookie made “some plays,” but quickly pivoted to the “itty bitty things that we gotta fix.” Think about it: taking sacks in a two-minute drill, losing yards in crucial situations. Those aren’t just “itty bitty” when you’re fighting for a spot. Glenn said, “As a young quarter, he’ll learn those things. He’s a very intelligent player. The good thing is they happen now. So we can look at the film and try to correct those things.” Klubnik started that game and played the entire first half, going 6 of 13 for just 59 yards and tossing an interception. Talk about a step backward from his first preseason start where he actually led two scoring drives filling in for an injured Geno Smith. The night started promising with a 10-play touchdown drive, all runs including one by Klubnik himself. But then? Five straight drives were a three-and-out, an interception, two punts, and then the half ended. Yikes.
“Not My Best Ball” , Klubnik Acknowledges Struggles
Klubnik himself didn’t duck the criticism, admitting, “Not exactly what we wanted as a whole.” He gave credit to the Giants’ defense, saying they “did a great job on third downs” and that the Jets “ran the ball really well tonight.” But he owned his part, saying, “For me, third downs we got to be better against their simulated pressures and finding an answer, and I have to get us to a play that will work. Overall, not my best ball. I thought we did some good things though. I thought at times, our offense was really rolling, and at times we couldn’t get into rhythm and that starts with me.” It’s not just this last game, either. His second preseason appearance saw him go 10 of 14 for 75 yards, but he failed to complete a single scoring drive and looked totally rattled by pressure. After back-to-back mediocre outings like that, it’s no shock that Coach Glenn was “non-committal” when asked if Klubnik would be the QB2. “Me and [GM Darren Mougey] are going to sit back and evaluate that,” Glenn stated. “It’s not fair to myself, not fair to him, not fair to us as a team to make those statements now.” And let’s be real, the other two QBs, Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook, combined for a dismal 5-for-11 for 38 yards, so it’s not like there’s a clear alternative shining bright.
The Jets have a huge decision to make, and they’ve got until Sunday, Aug. 30 to finalize their 53-man roster. Will Klubnik’s early promise be enough to overcome his recent struggles, or will the Jets look elsewhere for their backup? It’s crunch time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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