New York Jets rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik is navigating the typical peaks and valleys that come with transitioning from college football to the NFL, and Tuesday’s practice session highlighted one of the more difficult moments in that process.
The former Clemson star, now wearing No. 10 for the Jets, put together a performance that left some observers unimpressed following his solid showing in his preseason debut last week.
Beat reporter Nick Faria of Jets on SI assessed the session and noted that Klubnik struggled.
“While [Geno] Smith had a strong practice, the same could not be said for Klubnik. New York’s rookie signal-caller still made some good throws throughout practice but threw two interceptions. One of them wasn’t his fault, as a running back dropped a pass and tipped it up in the air. This allowed Samuel Womack to come away with the pick,” Faria wrote.
The issues persisted into the closing moments of the day.
“On the last throw of the day, though, Klubnik missed his receiver high and wide while watching [Azareye’h] Thomas pick off the pass. It looked like a miscommunication with a receiver, but it’s still an overthrow and interception at the end of the day,” Faria explained.
He added that Klubnik will have chances to respond quickly.
“Klubnik will look to bounce back tomorrow as he gets more reps ahead of the end of the preseason. It’s around this time, though, that he will need to prove he is worthy of the QB2 role on the offense going forward. Otherwise, the Jets could look elsewhere for a proven veteran,” Faria concluded.
Those comments arrive at a pivotal juncture for the young passer. Head coach Aaron Glenn has remained non-committal about whether Smith will take the field in the upcoming preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Smith sat out the opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers because of ankle soreness, which led to Klubnik receiving a last-minute starting assignment.
The rookie handled the unexpected opportunity with poise, completing an efficient outing that produced two scoring drives, one ending in a field goal and another in a touchdown. His performance was described as professional and productive, though it did not feature the kind of highlight-reel throws that would have generated extra excitement.
That limited sample has some around the team arguing Klubnik needs more opportunities to grow. ESPN New York’s Jake Asman noted that Glenn “made a mistake” by not giving the rookie additional snaps in the first preseason game.
As things stand, Smith remains the locked-in starter with a long leash, meaning Klubnik’s meaningful work this season will likely be confined to exhibition play. The next few practices and the Steelers game therefore take on added importance if he hopes to lock down the backup job rather than see the Jets consider adding a more experienced option.
Klubnik has shown flashes of the arm talent and decision-making that made him a high draft pick, but translating those traits consistently under pressure remains the next hurdle in his development.
