And then there were two... With the New York Jets moving on from veteran backup options Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe, all that remains in their quarterback room in Florham Park are a former Pro Bowler in Geno Smith and a rookie fourth-round pick in Cade Klubnik. Both players were going to make this team, but head coach Aaron Glenn is playing with fire by only rostering two quarterbacks.
Not to say Smith cannot play at a high level again, nor will Klubnik struggle out of the gate as a rookie; no other insurance whatsoever leaves the Jets exposed ahead of a critical season for Glenn. If Gang Green fails to come close to making the playoffs, that might be the end of the line for their defensive-minded head coach. Smith will be the Week 1 starter, but Klubnik has to be ready to play right away.
New York may still look to add a guy, but Glenn has told reporters that Klubnik won the backup job.
Jets HC Aaron Glenn told reporters that rookie QB Cade Klubnik will be the team’s No. 2 quarterback.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 31, 2026
Cade Klubnik is one snap away from being the New York Jets' starting QB
Let's be honest with ourselves. Smith has only played well at one of his handful of NFL stops out of West Virginia. It was with the Seattle Seahawks after Russell Wilson's career crashed and burned off its hall-of-fame trajectory. That was two teams ago. Klubnik demonstrated first-round talent at times with Clemson, but the Jets have already discovered his up-and-down nature of playing quarterback.
Again, NFL rosters only shrank from 90 to 53 on Sunday. There was no ramping-up period for this. All 32 franchises are still scrambling to round out their rosters after the first giant wave of cuts. In time, maybe the Jets will look to add another signal-caller to the mix? For now, Cook has been claimed by the rival Miami Dolphins. As for Zappe, he may return to the Jets' practice squad after being released.
With New York not expected to do much this season, it is not a matter of if, but a matter of when Klubnik will see the field in a game that counts for the Jets. This has everything to do with the Jets lacking any other depth behind Smith other than Klubnik. He is their depth. While the Jets could have been the fifth NFL franchise to roster four quarterbacks, sticking with only two right now is a choice.
Ultimately, this is not meant to be disparaging about Klubnik or his NFL upside in any way. However, it does beg to question why they are putting him in this tricky spot from the jump. All it may take is one miscue or bad stroke of luck for Klubnik to be thrust out there. We might only be 13 days away from Klubnik making his NFL regular-season debut at the Tennessee Titans, for all we know. It may happen.
Right now, we must keep our eyes peeled on the waiver wire to see if the Jets will add a quarterback.
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