After a week of joint practices, the Jets kicked off their three-week preseason slate against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at MetLife Stadium on Friday night, and neither team had its starting quarterbacks see any action.
Despite having the halftime lead, the Jets fell 24-16 to the Buccaneers, who scored two rushing TDs in the second half.
Cade Klubnik became the third rookie quarterback in Jets history to make a preseason start as QB Geno Smith (ankle soreness) was held out for precautionary reasons, according to head coach Aaron Glenn. All other veterans saw limited game action in the first quarter.
Klubnik, on his first passing attempt, connected with TE Mason Taylor on a 12-yard pickup up the middle. He led the Green & White on a 12-play, 65-yard opening drive resulting in a 27-yard field goal off the foot of Cade York.
The rookie QB orchestrated two scoring drives, and created a 10-0 lead, completing 5 of 7 attempts for 56 yards, before Bailey Zappe, and later Brady Cook, took over. Klubnik’s longest completion was a 21-yard pass to WR Garrett Wilson who made the grab by jumping over S Rashad Wisdom.