Jets coach Aaron Glenn keeps QB2 open after Cade Klubnik’s “up and down” preseason finale vs. Giants

The New York Jets entered their preseason finale against the Giants with Cade Klubnik viewed as a near lock to win QB2 duties behind Geno Smith. But according to Yahoo Sports’ report published on August 28, the rookie’s performance again proved inconsistent, leaving Jets coach Aaron Glenn “non-committal” about formally anointing Klubnik as the team’s backup quarterback.

The framing from the report is direct: Klubnik’s preseason showed a pattern of being productive at times but not stabilizing as the second report-caller. Yahoo Sports describes the preseason run as “up and down,” and it connects that evaluation to the coaching decision to hold off rather than make a definitive commitment after the latest game.

This is not a claim of a single bad outing so much as a broader judgment about momentum. The report characterizes the preseason finale as another step in a sequence, noting it was Klubnik’s second consecutive “mediocre” preseason performance. In that context, Glenn’s reluctance to close the door on the QB2 race is portrayed as a reflection of those repeated peaks and valleys rather than one moment.

For the Jets, the QB2 decision carries practical consequences. The backup role matters not just for depth, but for how the team plans to manage practice reps, game-week responsibilities, and the contingency plans that exist any time the starter is unavailable. The report’s emphasis on Glenn not wanting to “anoint” Klubnik suggests the Jets are keeping the option open to see more before they settle on a clear hierarchy behind Smith.

Geno Smith remains the anchor point of the depth chart as New York’s established starter in the report’s description. That matters because it keeps the QB2 competition more contained than it would be in a scenario where both jobs are actively unsettled. Still, the Jets appear to be treating QB2 as a position that requires reliable execution, particularly in the preseason when coaches evaluate how quickly a quarterback can process and respond.

It is also notable that the decision is tied to the preseason “finale” stage, when many teams are trying to simplify. If the Jets are choosing not to, it implies the staff sees enough uncertainty to continue looking. Klubnik’s fit and performance in the role would typically drive that conclusion, but the report stops short of listing a specific alternative as the replacement plan.

What to watch next is the internal resolution of the Jets’ quarterback depth chart as the offseason turns toward the regular-season transition. The clearest indicator will be whether Klubnik’s work in team and camp settings after this evaluation leads to a clearer pecking order, or whether New York keeps widening the QB2 conversation rather than committing to a single backup.