Battle for Jets' backup QB job is Cade Klubnik's to lose after surprise preseason start

EAST RUTHERFORD – Well, at least one thing became clear in the Jets’ 24-16 preseason-opening loss to the Buccaneers: The much-publicized battle for the backup quarterback job isn’t much of a battle at all.

Cade Klubnik, the job’s yours.

The rookie made the start for Geno Smith, who sat Friday night with a sore ankle. He played two series, led the Jets to 10 points, and completed five of seven passes for 56 yards. Braelon Allen capped the second with a 31-yard touchdown run.

The Buccaneers rested their defensive starters.

“He has some moxy to him,” said coach Aaron Glenn. “Really a thumbs-up (performance) for him.”

Selected in the fourth round from Clemson, Klubnik looked calm behind a Jets front that allowed just two pressures on his seven attempts. He was decisive with the ball, then aggressive when the opportunity presented itself. On the first possession, Klubnik fired one over the middle to Garrett Wilson, who made a spectacular contested catch for a 21-yard gain.

It’s been an up-and-down summer for Klubnik. He’s flashed. In joint practices with the Buccaneers on Wednesday, he found Arian Smith for a perfectly placed, 55-yard touchdown. The issue is that turnovers have been as big a part of his game as strikes.

Klubnik has been prone to forcing passes into areas he likely shouldn’t, leading to head-scratching interceptions.

Friday night featured none of that. Klubnik looked in control, maybe a result of his 40 collegiate starts.

Bailey Zappe, who had been competing with Klubnik for the backup job, spelled him against Tampa Bay. He struggled mightily against the reserves, finishing six of 10 for 55 yards with a pair of interceptions.

Here are a few more takeaways from Jets-Bucs …

-It was a promising start for Klubnik, but the struggles of Zappe paint a questionable picture of what the Jets have behind Geno Smith. A sore ankle isn’t anything concerning, but it does raise alarms about how a 35-year-old quarterback can break down at a moment’s notice. It would be a very significant undertaking to ask Klubnik to play meaningful reps early in the season. Adding a quarterback might be a smart move.

-That grab from Wilson was a thing of beauty. He had another catch-and-run for 11 yards on the same drive. He’s a very, very good football player and the Jets offense operates at an entirely different level with him out there. The key, and this has been the case: Get Wilson a quarterback who can get him the ball. They hope they’ve done that with Smith.

-Isaiah Williams got the start at slot receiver over Omar Cooper, which isn’t a surprise if you’ve seen training camp. It’s been a slow decline in reps for the rookie this summer. Part of that is because Cooper is swimming a bit, but Williams has also been a camp star. He deserves the playing time. Cooper did make a few plays on Friday night, including a 26-yard grab to convert a first down.

-Cooper is a unique receiver. What he does well isn’t really something that shows up in practice. He’s not super electric or fast. He doesn’t run the best routes. He’s a player you want to get the ball to, then step away as he makes magic happen. The “YAC” shows up in games – and did a bit on Friday. The key for Cooper now, and to steal a few reps back from Williams, is doing this consistently. He flashes, but doesn’t do it enough.

-The Jets really do have quite the 1-2 punch with Breece Hall and Allen. Allen flashed that physicality and speed on his touchdown, when he got through an arm tackle and then ran away from the defense for the score. The Jets recently paid Hall – deservedly so. Frank Reich can’t forget about Allen, though.

-Undrafted cornerback Mory Bamba played well. He had four pass breakups and a nice special teams tackle. It’s a long shot for him to make the team in the Jets’ crowded corner room, but he’s a candidate for the practice squad.

-Arian Smith’s days might be numbered. He had issues with drops at Georgia. That’s been a theme in training camp this year. It’s getting to the point the Jets just can’t trust him. That’s an issue for a roster-bubble wideout.

–Will McDonald had a sack on a power move when he bull-rushed a tackle. That’s a good thing to see. McDonald hasn’t done much this summer. The Jets desperately need a rusher to step up opposite rookie phenom David Bailey.

-Speaking of Bailey … it was a quiet night for the Jets’ No. 2 pick. He played eight snaps (per ESPN), finishing with a tackle and quarterback pressure.

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