The New York Jets opened their 2026 preseason with a 24-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but the scoreboard told only part of the story.
For a team that rolled out its offensive and defensive starters in the first quarter, there were several encouraging moments before Tampa Bay took control. Fourth-year edge rusher Will McDonald picked up a sack in limited work, with second overall pick David Bailey also getting into the backfield on the play.
Garrett Wilson wasted little time making his presence felt. The receiver, who signed a $130 million contract, hauled in two passes for 32 yards, including an impressive grab that stood out early.
At quarterback, fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik got the start with Geno Smith unavailable because of foot soreness. The injury had been described as non-serious and something that would not have kept him out of a regular season game.
Klubnik handled two drives and finished 5 of 7 for 56 yards with no touchdowns and no interceptions. He was sacked once for two yards and did not run.
More importantly for New York, he helped the Jets score on both of his possessions. By the time he left the game, the Jets were ahead 10-0.
That early cushion came on a 31-yard touchdown run from Braelon Allen, who showed off surprising quickness for a 250-pound back.
After that, the momentum swung hard. Tampa Bay’s defense settled in and began shutting down the Jets’ offense, while New York’s defense did not create enough negative plays to keep the Buccaneers from climbing back into the game and eventually taking the lead.
Bailey Zappe, working as the third-string quarterback, threw two interceptions. The first came on a bad read and was returned for a touchdown. The second deflected off the hands of wide receiver Arian Smith, a 2025 fourth-round pick who is battling for a roster spot.
There were other bright spots for New York, too. First-round rookie wideout Omar Cooper Jr. finished with two catches for 31 yards on three targets. Undrafted rookie cornerback Mory Bamba may have had the best night of anyone in green and white, recording four pass deflections in coverage and adding a strong special teams tackle.
The Jets continue preseason play next Friday at 7 p.m. EST against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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