While it’s only the preseason, the Jets should be encouraged by what they saw from rookie QB Cade Klubnik on Friday against the Buccaneers.
Thrust into the starting role after Geno Smith was ruled out with a sore ankle as a precaution, the fourth-round pick looked poised in his two series with Gang Green, going 5-for-7 for 57 yards in the air.
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“I was definitely excited,” Klubnik said. “I think the first thing that I kind of thought to myself was that not a lot was going to change. I knew Geno was only going to play maybe eight to 10 plays and I was ready to go in early after that. So in my mind, I just got to go in eight to 10 plays earlier.”
Head coach Aaron Glenn told Klubnik he was starting Thursday after speaking with Smith. The second-year coach wasn’t too surprised by Klubnik’s performance considering he gave him enough reps with the ones.
“I give him a lot of credit for going out there and operating the way he did,” Glenn said. ” Today was really a thumbs-up for him.”
Klubnik is competing to be the Jets’ backup quarterback this season, going up against Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe, but after the first preseason game, it’s hard not to think the Clemson product is in the driver’s seat for the spot.
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Both drives under center resulted in points for the Jets. The first saw Klubnik complete a couple of third-down completions to Garrett Wilson, including an amazing grab by the Jets’ No. 1 wideout over the middle. Klubnik did throw an incomplete pass to Wilson in the endzone that stalled the drive and resulted in a 27-yard field goal from Cade York.
The second drive was capped off by a 31-yard TD scamper from Braelon Allen, ending Klubnik’s night.
“Although I’m a young player, I think I’m poised and I don’t get flustered from big games and big moments,” Klubnik said. “I get a lot of peace from the Lord, for one…that gives me a lot of peace. Two, being in a unique situation and unique game and put some drives together. I still made some mistakes out there. Being able to learn from those and respond to those quickly. And have my teammates have my back when they did happen… the way they encouraged me pre-game, in between drives, during the game, that filled me with a lot of confidence to continue to lead the drive to get another third down and keep the drive going…. That meant a lot to me.”
Where Klubnik goes from here is unclear and depends on a few factors, including Smith’s health. But as New York works toward their second preseason game, this time against the Steelers, Klubnik’s preseason debut has, at least, given him the chance to run with this opportunity.
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