New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith has received an injury update ahead of the preseason game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
New York Jets veteran quarterback Geno Smith will not play in the preseason matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as he is dealing with foot soreness. The Jets are not concerned about the injury, as Smith would've played had it been a regular-season game.
Smith will be the starter for New York despite struggling in the 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders. In that season, Smith completed 67.4 percent of his passes for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions. He had a ton of turnovers, which is a concern for the Jets heading into the 2026 season.
While Smith is out, the rest of the starters will play for New York, with Cade Klubnik taking the starting quarterback role for the night.
The Jets selected Klubnik in the fourth round of the draft, and he has a chance to start at some point in the regular season if he plays well and Smith struggles.
Klubnik was a three-year starter for Clemson and had some solid seasons. In the 2023 season, he completed 63.9 percent of his passes for 2,844 yards, 19 touchdowns, and nine interceptions while rushing for 182 yards and four touchdowns.
USA TODAY Network via Reuters ConnectHis best season came in 2024, as Klubnik completed 63.4 percent of his passes for 3,639 yards, 36 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He also added 463 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
Klubnik's numbers dropped in the 2025 season, as he completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 2,943 yards, 16 touchdowns, and six interceptions while rushing for 94 yards and four touchdowns.
Klubnik showed flashes of his potential in college, but he will need to play at a more consistent level to earn a starting role with the Jets.
New York has a talented young offense with weapons like Garrett Wilson, Adonai Mitchell, Omar Cooper Jr., Kenyon Sadiq, and Breece Hall, which should help Klubnik as he looks to establish his NFL career.
Although it's a minor injury for Smith, if Klubnik shows out, it could mean the 35-year-old's time as a starter for the Jets doesn't go too far.
