One of the most fascinating decisions left for the Jets as they enter the season is whether rookie Cade Klubnik has done enough to convince them he can be the No. 2 quarterback.

Klubnik has had a strong training camp and seems the likely choice to be Geno Smith’s backup, but there is still a chance that general manager Darren Mougey and coach Aaron Glenn seek a veteran through a trade or a waiver claim. 

One thing offensive coordinator Frank Reich said he is not worried about is the lack of a veteran quarterback to help Smith along. 

“Listen, we’ve got [QB coach] Bill Musgrave in that room, I’m in that room,” Reich said. “So, Geno has some seasoned quarterbacks in the room with him. … Whatever decision’s going to be made will be made and that’ll be made by A.G. and [Mougey], right? But Cade has done well. He’s done well and it’s a really good dynamic in that room. It’s a really good dynamic in that room.”

Jets quarterback Cade Klubnik (10) practices at training camp on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, in Florham Park, NJ. Bill Kostroun/New York Post

Klubnik played longer against the Steelers last week. It is unclear how much Klubnik will play Friday night against the Giants. Reich praised his play in Pittsburgh. 

Cade Klubnik of the New York Jets looks to pass during the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on August 21, 2026, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Getty Images

“He’s extremely poised,” Reich said. “I mean, probably my favorite play for him in the game was when we were backed up and we drop back in the pocket and he’s in the end zone, and we called something to the right that I thought was going to be a get it out, quick thing, and they covered it, and so he had to progress all the way back to the No. 3 guy on the backside, and man, he just looked extremely poised in the pocket.

“That’s hard to do for a quarterback in the NFL. Standing in the end zone, No. 1’s not open, No. 2’s not open, ‘OK, let me work back here to No. 3 and I’m standing in the end zone.’ He did it like he’s been doing it for years, so that was probably, for him, my favorite play. So, he’s made good progress.”

Edge Nate Lynn had an impressive Jets debut last week in Pittsburgh. He had been signed just three days before, then had two sacks against the Steelers. 

“[I] was super impressed by that,” defensive coordinator Brian Duker said. “Short week for him, but I think it’s one of those things like, he’s been a good edge rusher for a long time, he was really good at it in college and kind of did what came naturally to him, right? And so, it was great to see, I was very happy.”