Rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik is making a strong push to be Geno Smith's backup with the New York Jets, showing poise and progress during training camp. His performance has led to praise from offensive coordinator Frank Reich, who expressed confidence in the quarterback room.
"Listen, we’ve got [QB coach] Bill Musgrave in that room, I’m in that room,” Reich said. “So, Geno has some seasoned quarterbacks in the room with him. … Cade has done well. He’s done well and it’s a really good dynamic in that room."
Klubnik played an extended portion of the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers last week and is expected to see significant playing time against the New York Giants on Friday. Reich highlighted a specific play from the Steelers game where Klubnik demonstrated maturity under pressure.
"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 elaborated on the difficulty of such a play for an NFL quarterback, especially while in the end zone, noting that Klubnik executed it with the confidence of a veteran. "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 has impressed, the decision on whether he will secure the No. 2 spot or if the Jets will pursue a veteran backup through trade or waivers rests with general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn.
In other team news, defensive coordinator Brian Duker was impressed with the debut of edge rusher Nate Lynn, who joined the team just three days prior to recording two sacks against the Steelers. "I was super impressed by that," Duker said. "Short week for him, but I think it’s one of those things like, he’s been a good edge rusher for a long time, he was really good at it in college and kind of did what came naturally to him, right? And so, it was great to see, I was very happy."