Jets settle on Cade Klubnik as backup quarterback, with Bailey Zappe cut and Brady Cook waved

The New York Jets have identified Cade Klubnik as their backup quarterback heading into the 2026 season, a decision that clarifies the second spot behind starter Geno Smith. According to Pro Football Rumors, the Jets made a series of roster moves at the position that included Sunday cuts involving Bailey Zappe and the waiver of Brady Cook, with New York and Miami both taking action over the next day.

Klubnik’s placement on the active roster is the central change. Pro Football Rumors reported that Klubnik is the only other passer currently carried on the Jets’ active roster besides Smith, effectively concentrating the team’s immediate quarterback depth behind one veteran and one developmental player. The report also framed the move as part of a broader expectation that “more” quarterback transactions could follow, reflecting how NFL teams often maintain flexibility as camps end and the season schedule approaches.

On the other side of the quarterback carousel, Pro Football Rumors indicated the Dolphins submitted a claim for Brady Cook after Cook was waived by New York. In practical terms, the waiver process meant Miami had the opportunity to add a quarterback to its own depth group, rather than waiting for a later signing. The report also noted that Bailey Zappe was included among the Jets’ Sunday roster cuts, reducing the number of quarterbacks competing for a role in New York’s immediate rotation.

Pro Football Rumors further reported that Jets head coach Aaron Glenn confirmed Klubnik as the backup. While the exact wording of Glenn’s confirmation was not included in the available description, the statement attributed to the team head coach is the key operational detail, because it indicates the coaching staff’s preference for a defined depth plan rather than leaving the backup role unresolved heading into Week 1 preparations.

For the Jets, the move is mostly about readiness and continuity. Smith remains the starter, and naming Klubnik as the backup suggests New York wants one clear contingency option rather than a moving target. For the Dolphins, claiming Cook indicates a parallel approach, using the waiver wire to secure quarterback insurance and competition depth, especially in a league where injuries and game-time decisions can force rapid lineup changes.

What to watch next is whether the Jets add another quarterback beyond the current two-passers-on-active-roster situation. Pro Football Rumors characterized additional quarterback moves as likely, which means Klubnik’s backup status could become part of a wider depth-building plan rather than the final word on the Jets’ overall roster construction. In the meantime, fans in New York will focus on how Klubnik handles the backup reps in practice and the kind of package the offense uses in preseason-and-early-season situations.