Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — Cade Klubnik entered the New York Jets’ preseason finale Friday night with an opportunity to secure the backup quarterback job. He left MetLife Stadium with the position looking far less settled.
Klubnik completed six of 13 passes for 55 yards and threw a second quarter interception as the Jets closed the preseason with a 23-6 loss to the New York Giants.
The annual Snoopy Bowl between New York’s football teams went down Friday evening at MetLife Stadium with the Giants defeating the Jets by a final score of 23-6 to close out the 2026 NFL preseason – Image Credit: Bill Menzel and Joel Rodriguez/Latino Sports
The fourth round rookie out of Clemson University, selected by the Jets with the 110th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, had shown enough throughout training camp to emerge as the leading candidate to back up Geno Smith, but against the Giants’ reserves however, Klubnik struggled to handle simulated pressure, sustain drives and convert on third down.
“Overall, not my best ball,” he said afterwards. “I thought we did some good things, though. I thought at times that our offense was really rolling, and then at times, we just weren’t getting in a rhythm. And that starts with me and getting the guys going.”
Klubnik also credited the offensive line and running back Chip Trayanum but acknowledged that he needed to provide better answers against the Giants’ pressure packages.
Cade Klubnik’s longest play Friday night was to RB Chip Trayanum for a 22-yard gain when the RB made a low, fingertip grab on the right sideline and picked up all the yardage after the catch. Trayanum unfortunately left the game with a neck injury and was taken to the hospital after taking a hit on the final play before halftime – Image Credit: Bill Menzel and Joel Rodriguez/Latino Sports
His performance leaves the Jets with an important question before Week 1: Will they trust Klubnik as Smith’s immediate backup, or find an external solution?
“I’ll say this—me and (GM Darren Mougey) are going to sit back and evaluate that,” head coach Aaron Glenn said. “It’s not fair to myself, not fair to him, not fair to us as a team to make those statements now. We’ll take a look at that, evaluate it and make the right decision moving forward.”
Clemson product Cade Klubnik, selected in the fourth round by the Jets in the 2026 NFL Draft, finished the preseason on combined totals of 21-for-34 for 190 yards with zero touchdowns, one interception and four sacks – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Klubnik has displayed a lively arm and a lot of developmental upside, but Friday night showed that he may not be ready to keep the offense afloat if Smith misses any time. Brady Cook has not separated himself enough in the competition, making the waiver wire or a late trade realistic possibilities, while Bailey Zappe already was waived Saturday afternoon.
The Jets own the No. 2 waiver position as teams reduce their rosters from 90 players to 53.
While the quarterback situation remains uncertain, the Jets’ defense provided another encouraging preseason performance.
The Jets got off to a strong start with two first quarter takeaways vs. the Giants Friday night and took an early 6-0 lead lead however the G-Men clawed back and regained the lead before halftime to go up 7-6 – Image Credit: Joel Rodriguez/Latino Sports
Qwan’tez Stiggers helped force an interception that teammate Marcelino McCrary-Ball secured on the Giants’ opening possession after Odell Beckham Jr. slipped coming out of his route.
Gang Green recovered a Braxton Berrios fumble in the end zone on the following series, giving the defense two takeaways in the first quarter.
Puerto Rican Braxton Berrios, returning to action Friday night after missing the Giants’ previous preseason game due to what coach John Harbaugh termed a soft-tissue injury, struggled on offense, losing a fumble on the Jets’ four-yard line at the end of his only catch and failing to come down with three other targets – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
The Giants eventually settled in. Beckham responded with receptions of 13 and 23 yards, with the latter helping set up Tyrone Tracy Jr.’s six-yard touchdown run. Beckham’s performance strengthened his bid to complete a return to the franchise where he began his NFL career.
“I feel like I gave everything I had,” said Beckham. “Super grateful for the opportunity and, at this point, it’s just—it’s in God’s hands, you know? I know that I have a good feeling about myself. I feel like there’s ball to be played, there’s plays to be made and, right now, I’m just truly grateful for that opportunity, that experience.”
At the place where it all started, Odell Beckham Jr., recording three catches for 53 yards against the Jets Friday night at MetLife Stadium, now awaits to see if he made the Giants’ 53 man roster with the deadline to make final cuts set for Sunday at 6:00pm ET – Image Credit: Bill Menzel and Joel Rodriguez/Latino Sports
The Jets allowed 13 points through the first three quarters before their deep reserves surrendered 10 in the fourth. New York also finished the final two preseason games with three interceptions. Edge rusher Nate Lynn continued his late roster push by recording his third sack in two games.
Special teams remain a concern for Gang Green. Jason Sanders missed an extra point after the Jets released Cade York and named Sanders the winner of their kicking competition.
“I didn’t like the fact that we missed these field goals,” Glenn said. “But we’re not going to panic. Either we fix those issues, or we get the right person in here.”
Aaron Glenn, a former NFL cornerback and now head coach who is embarking on his 30th year in the NFL, gained plenty of experience his rookie season as a head coach with the Jets in 2025 and will look to build from it in 2026 – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
The Jets also committed seven first-half penalties, another issue Glenn will need corrected before the regular season.
The final score will quickly be forgotten but the questions surrounding Klubnik and the kicking game will follow the Jets into roster-cut weekend.
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