As the New York Jets put the finishing touches on their 53-man roster and shift their focus to the regular season, head coach Aaron Glenn made a key decision under center on Monday, officially naming rookie Cade Klubnik as the backup quarterback behind starter Geno Smith. The announcement comes just under two weeks before the Jets open their 2026 campaign against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, Sept. 13, at Nissan Stadium.
Klubnik Wins the Backup Battle
Klubnik, a fourth-round pick in this year's NFL Draft out of Clemson, edged out veterans Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook for the No. 2 role after a competitive training camp and preseason. The 22-year-old saw action in all three preseason games, completing 21 of 34 passes for 190 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception, while adding 22 rushing yards on two carries. Despite some rookie hiccups, Glenn expressed confidence in his young signal-caller.
“He’s our backup quarterback, and he’ll do a good job,” Glenn said. “Just the confidence and how he operates and what he’s done in practice, what he’s done in the games. I don’t think anybody ever said that there wasn’t gonna be hiccups. He’s a rookie, but he’s always learning. He’s a very intelligent guy. We’re proud that we have him and he’s improved over the course of training camp and he’s gonna continue to improve.”
Klubnik's path to the NFL was unconventional. After a stellar junior year at Clemson in 2024-25, many evaluators projected him as a potential first-round pick. However, he returned for his senior season, saw his stock dip, and fell to the Jets in the fourth round. Still, Glenn and his staff were impressed by Klubnik's poise and work ethic throughout the summer, noting that the quarterback room was one they monitored closely.
“The [QB] room throughout training camp was a room that we kept close eye on just to see how those guys operated and Cade has done a really good job for us,” Glenn added. Meanwhile, Cook was claimed off waivers by the Miami Dolphins, while Zappe remains a free agent. The Jets continue to evaluate options for their practice squad.
Injury Updates: Ossai Week-to-Week, Others on Track
The biggest injury concern entering Week 1 is defensive end Joseph Ossai, who sustained a foot injury in the final preseason game against the Giants. Ossai, who signed a three-year, $34.5 million deal in March, is considered week-to-week after what Glenn described as a plantar fascia issue. “Usually when you rupture [the plantar fascia], it’s a better deal,” Glenn explained. “It relieves any of the pain instead of a partial tear and we were lucky that we had that part so I would say week-to-week with him. It’s not something that will be long-term so I’m happy about that.”
Glenn also provided a sweeping update on other injured players, including running back Breece Hall (groin) and rookie tight end Kenyon Sadiq (hernia surgery). “With all of our other guys, we’re right on target for being ready for Week 1,” Glenn said. “Obviously that’s Breece, that’s Isaiah [Davis], that’s [D’Angelo] Ponds, that’s Sadiq. All those guys will be [ready] [and I'm] very confident in where Ossai is and look forward to him getting back with us quickly.”
The Jets are also being cautious with second-round pick D’Angelo Ponds, who suffered a calf strain in July and missed nearly all of training camp. The plan is to get him on the field as much as possible before the regular season without risking re-injury. “We have to make sure we don’t mess up anything as far as our players being ready for Week 1,” Glenn noted.
As the Jets finalize their preparations, the Vulius NFL Analysis Desk will continue to track these storylines and more. With a healthy roster and a clear quarterback hierarchy, New York appears poised for a strong start to the 2026 season.
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