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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
New York Jets quarterback Cade Klubnik (10) calls a play in the first half against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in East Rutherford, New Jersey. for the NY POST
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 tight end Mason Taylor.
He then threw a strike to Garrett Wilson on third-and-8 that Wilson caught after making a leap for a first down.
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It was a good performance for Klubnik, the fourth-round pick out of Clemson. Klubnik did not seem fazed by his first NFL game.
“Although I’m a young player, I think I’m poised,” Klubnik said. “I don’t feel like I get really flustered from big games and big moments and stuff like that.”
It was a positive night for Wilson, who missed the final 10 games of last season with a knee injury. Wilson looked like himself and not only converted that third down but another one on the drive, an 11-yard completion on a crossing route.
It looked like Breece Hall was going to score an easy touchdown after he broke outside but he stumbled after gaining 14 yards and went out of bounds at the Bucs’ 9-yard line. Klubnik had a chance to hit Wilson for a touchdown but he sailed the ball over his head and out of the end zone.
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York made a 27-yard field goal and later hit a 38-yarder at the end of the first half that looked like he may have actually missed it. The officials took a few seconds before declaring the field goal good. York is competing with Jason Sanders for the kicking job. Sanders made a 47-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
Jets quarterback Cade Klubnik (10) gets by Buccaneers defensive back Damarion Williams (28) during the first half of a pre-season game in East Rutherford, NJ, on Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. Bill Kostroun/New York Post
The starting offense headed for the sideline after that first drive but Klubnik remained in with the backups. This time, the Jets found the end zone but Klubnik did not have to only had to throw one pass. Braelon Allen put a nice cutback on the Tampa defense and went 31 yards for the touchdown and a 10-0 lead with 2:06 left in the first quarter.
Klubnik exited the game with a firmer grip on the backup job.
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“He has some moxie to him,” Glenn said. “He’s very confident. He’s confident in his arm. He’s confident in his ability to elude and make plays with his feet.”
Zappe replaced Klubnik and threw an interception to Ayden Garnes, who returned it 47 yards for a touchdown to tie the game at 10-10. Zappe threw another interception on the next series, but this one was not his fault. Receiver Arian Smith let the ball bounce off his hands and Rashad Wisdom picked it off.
The Jets starting defense played two series and allowed one first down. They were facing all backups, including third-string quarterback Connor Baselak. Baker Mayfield was in street clothes and backup Jake Browning was injured this week.
Will McDonald had a highlight, sacking Baselak on third down to end Tampa’s first series. Rookie sensation David Bailey had a quiet debut. He played just eight snaps and had one tackle and one quarterback pressure. The Buccaneers did give the rookie a lot of attention, double-teaming him on one play and chipping him on another.
