The Jets came into training camp with a quarterback picture that looked unfinished, and the early returns haven’t done much to clean it up. Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook are both in the mix, but the real focus has been on rookie Cade Klubnik, the Clemson product the team appears eager to see win the backup job.
Klubnik has been getting the most work with the second team, according to reporters at practice, and that heavy workload has come with the kind of uneven results you’d expect from a rookie trying to sort himself out. Thursday was another shaky chapter.
The rough start showed up immediately. Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic reported that Klubnik’s first throw of the day went straight to linebacker Mykal Walker. “Not even sure who he was targeting,” Rosenblatt wrote on X.
That kind of misfire matters because the Jets are trying to build a workable insurance plan behind Geno Smith, and right now the options still look unsettled. Klubnik’s day only added to the sense that New York may not be done searching if this competition doesn’t tighten up soon.
Not Cade Klubnik’s day so far.
1/5 with an interception in team drills.
Most of the reps have been in the red zone/red zone+ area.
- Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) August 6, 2026
There was at least a small rebound later in practice. Rosenblatt also reported that Klubnik’s interception streak ended in 7-on-7 work when he connected with Isaiah Williams for a touchdown pass.
That’s the kind of sequence the Jets need more of from the rookie: fewer giveaways, more completion, and some sign he can steady the position. Until that happens, the competition remains wide open.
If New York does decide it needs a safer veteran hand, the market is thin but not empty. Jimmy Garoppolo is the top name still available, with Cooper Rush next in line among the free agents. If the Jets want to get more aggressive, a trade for Will Levis or Spencer Rattler would be another path to explore.
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At a recent press conference, Smith also added a new wrinkle to his camp routine by showing up with a very noticeable pair of practice eyewear. He said the gear is part of what he is using to deal with the sun and the glare during workouts, and it did not take long for fans to notice the look and start reacting. For the Jets, it is a small detail, but the kind that tends to follow a quarterback around when he is trying to make a fresh first impression in a new setup. [Read more 🡒]