The New York Jets dropped their preseason opener to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-16 on Friday, but the real shocker wasn’t the score. Quarterback Geno Smith, acquired in the offseason with the goal of putting forth a better product than “this campaign,” didn’t even start. Instead, fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik owned the spotlight, stepping in and immediately becoming the game’s undeniable standout. Talk about a wild start to the season!
The QB Room Just Got Spicy
Forget about Smith for a sec, because the story here is all about the competition. Klubnik, a fourth-round pick, got the nod over the veteran trade acquisition, and he ran with it. Most of the action involved players like Brady Cook, who are fighting for playing time next season. Cook himself is vying for a higher spot in the quarterback room, essentially competing with Klubnik to be the primary backup behind Smith. Cook looked totally in command of the offense, and if he keeps playing like that, he absolutely has a shot at locking down that backup role. Meanwhile, on the other side, the Buccaneers didn’t play their starting QB Baker Mayfield either. Their QB Jalon Daniels completed 10-of-15 passes for 111 yards, with wide receiver Garrett Greene snagging 4-of-7 targets for 54 yards. But seriously, the focus has to be on what’s happening with the Jets’ signal-callers.
Who’s Going Up, Who’s Slipping Down?
Beyond the quarterback drama, some players either made their case for a roster spot or showed they’ve got work to do. On the “stock up” side, cornerback Mory Bamba absolutely balled out. He’s fighting to make this Jets roster, and after his performance on Friday, he looks like he’s in a great position. Bamba racked up five tackles, three of them solo, and deflected four passes. That’s a serious stat line showing he can tackle *and* cover.
Now, for the “stock down” crew. Running back Kene Nwangwu, mostly known as a returner, had a chance to earn some touches on offense but he didn’t exactly impress. Six carries for six yards? Yeah, there’s definitely room for improvement there if he wants to see the field on offense. And cornerback Azareye’h Thomas, a third-round pick, finished with just one tackle and one pass defended. He’s probably going to see limited preseason action, but he needs to show a lot more if he wants to prove he belongs on this squad.
The Jets are 0-1, but the preseason is all about finding those gems and sorting out the depth chart. Next week, every one of these guys gets another shot to prove they belong. You gotta wonder if Smith finally gets the nod then, or if Klubnik keeps the momentum going. Either way, this QB battle just got spicy.
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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