Cade Klubnik’s NFL debut came earlier than expected, and the New York Jets rookie made the most of his opportunity. Klubnik led the Jets to points on both of his drives after being thrust into the starting role following the late scratch of veteran quarterback Geno Smith, but New York ultimately fell 24-16 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday night in the preseason opener for both teams.
Smith was expected to play at least a few snaps with the rest of New York’s starters, but coach Aaron Glenn said after the game that the quarterback was dealing with a sore ankle after getting banged up during the teams’ joint practice Wednesday. The Jets decided to hold Smith out and give Klubnik the start.
The fourth-round pick out of Clemson looked confident while working with New York’s starting offense against a Tampa Bay team that rested its starters on both sides of the ball.
Klubnik opened the game with a 12-yard completion to tight end Mason Taylor and helped engineer a 12-play, 65-yard drive. He connected with Garrett Wilson for gains of 21 and 11 yards on third-down plays, showing poise in key situations.
The drive stalled at the Tampa Bay 9-yard line, however, when Klubnik’s third-down pass intended for Wilson in the end zone fell incomplete. The Jets settled for Cade York’s 27-yard field goal.
Klubnik returned for New York’s second possession with the backups and immediately got the offense moving. He opened the drive with a 5-yard completion to first-round pick Omar Cooper Jr. before Braelon Allen finished the possession with a 31-yard touchdown run.
Allen’s score gave the Jets a 10-0 lead and provided an encouraging moment for the running back, who was returning from a knee injury that limited him to just four games last season.
That was the end of Klubnik’s night. He completed 5 of 7 passes for 56 yards and did not commit a turnover.
With the rookie finished, Bailey Zappe took over and had a difficult outing. Zappe’s first series ended when undrafted rookie Ayden Garnes intercepted him and returned the pick 47 yards for a touchdown. Zappe was intercepted again on his second series, this time by Rashad Wisdom.
Zappe finished 6 of 10 for 55 yards and two interceptions before giving way to Brady Cook in the third quarter. Cook, who started the final four games for the Jets last season, handled the remainder of New York’s quarterback duties.
Tampa Bay entered the game without Baker Mayfield, while backup Jake Browning was also unavailable after tweaking his back during Tuesday’s joint practice with the Jets.
That left third-string quarterback Connor Bazelak to make the start.
Bazelak completed 12 of 20 passes for 72 yards and helped the Buccaneers stay within striking distance after New York’s fast start. On Tampa Bay’s third drive, he nearly connected with third-round pick Ted Hurst III for a touchdown, but undrafted rookie Mory Bamba made a key play in the end zone to knock the ball away.
The Buccaneers settled for Chase McLaughlin’s 23-yard field goal. Tampa Bay turned to undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels to begin the second half, and the former Kansas quarterback provided one of the biggest stories of the night.
Daniels quickly energized the Buccaneers’ offense. His first NFL series ended with Josh Williams breaking loose for a 12-yard touchdown run, putting Tampa Bay ahead 17-13. Daniels later delivered the final points himself, running up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown with 3:24 remaining.
He finished an impressive debut 10 of 15 passing for 111 yards while adding nine rushing yards and a touchdown on three carries. Although the Jets ultimately came up short, Klubnik’s performance provided plenty for New York to build on.
The rookie showed accuracy, mobility and composure while operating both with the starters and backups. His ability to move the offense and make third-down throws to Wilson was particularly encouraging as he competes for the Jets’ No. 2 quarterback job.
The biggest question surrounding New York entering the preseason was how the quarterback situation behind Smith would develop. Klubnik’s unexpected start gave him an opportunity to make an early impression, and he took advantage of it.
For Tampa Bay, Daniels’ second-half performance provided an equally encouraging glimpse of what the rookie quarterback can bring.
The Jets will now turn their attention to their next preseason matchup, with Klubnik having already made a strong case for more opportunities as the competition for the backup quarterback job continues.
