The New York Jets closed their preseason on Friday night, falling to the crosstown-rival New York Giants, 23-6.
It marked the final look Gang Green will have at fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik before making their decision at QB2.
Did he do enough to earn the job?
“We’re going to sit back and evaluate that,” Jets head coach Aaron Glenn told reporters following the game.
On Friday night, Klubnik’s showing was uninspiring. He completed six of his 13 passing attempts (46.1%) for 59 yards, zero touchdowns and an interception while taking a sack.
If Klubnik doesn’t win the Jets’ QB2 job, it will most likely be a veteran picked up on the cutdown day market. It appears highly unlikely that the Jets’ in-house options, Brady Cook or Bailey Zappe, have a legitimate shot at winning the role.
Overall, Klubnik looked the part of a fourth-round rookie throughout the preseason. He hasn’t been an utter disaster, but his play also hasn’t consistently popped off the screen.
It’s important to keep in mind that fourth-round rookie QBs typically don’t begin their NFL careers as primary backups. While Klubnik started 40 career games at Clemson, it appears that the Jets are prepared to at least scour the veteran market on cutdown day.
Klubnik didn’t particularly play himself out of the QB2 job with his play in the preseason, but he didn’t run away with it either.
If a more reliable veteran becomes available on cutdown day, Klubnik’s performance shouldn’t stop the Jets from making a move.
