The New York Jets will sit starting quarterback Geno Smith for their final preseason game against the New York Giants on Friday night. The decision comes as the team intends to rest most of their starters who have already seen action during the preseason. Smith, who played only one series in the preseason, will be sidelined, allowing backup quarterbacks Cade Klubnik, Bailey Zappe, and Brady Cook an extended opportunity to play.
Klubnik has impressed during training camp and appears to be the leading candidate for the backup quarterback position. However, the team's general manager, Darren Mougey, and coach Aaron Glenn might still explore acquiring a veteran quarterback through a trade or waiver claim.
Offensive coordinator Frank Reich expressed confidence in the current quarterback room, noting the presence of quarterbacks coach Bill Musgrave and himself to support Smith. Reich also praised Klubnik's performance, particularly his poise in a challenging situation during the previous preseason game against the Steelers. "He's extremely poised," Reich stated. "I mean, probably my favorite play for him in the game was when we were backed up and we drop back in the pocket and he’s in the end zone, and we called something to the right that I thought was going to be a get it out, quick thing, and they covered it, and so he had to progress all the way back to the No. 3 guy on the backside, and man, he just looked extremely poised in the pocket."
Reich further elaborated on Klubnik's development, highlighting his ability to make the correct reads under pressure. "That’s hard to do for a quarterback in the NFL. Standing in the end zone, No. 1’s not open, No. 2’s not open, ‘OK, let me work back here to No. 3 and I’m standing in the end zone.’ He did it like he’s been doing it for years, so that was probably, for him, my favorite play. So, he’s made good progress."
While Klubnik's playing time in Friday's game remains uncertain, his recent performance has drawn positive remarks from the coaching staff. The Jets aim to use this final preseason matchup to further evaluate their depth at the quarterback position.