Rookie Cade Klubnik leads 2 scoring drives after Geno Smith is scratched in Jets' 24-16 loss to Bucs

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — Cade Klubnik knew he'd make his NFL debut early in the New York Jets' preseason opener. It turned out it came even sooner than expected for the rookie fourth-rounder.

Klubnik led the Jets to scores on his two drives after a surprise start in place of a scratched Geno Smith in a 24-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday night.

“I was definitely excited,” Klubnik said. "I think the first thing that I kind of thought to myself was that not a lot was going to change. I knew Geno was only going to play maybe eight to 10 plays and I was ready to go in early after that.

“So in my mind, I just got to go in eight to 10 plays earlier.”

Klubnik, competing for the No. 2 quarterback job, opened the game under center because Smith has a sore ankle, coach Aaron Glenn said after the game.

“Nothing to be alarmed about,” Glenn said.

Smith was expected to play at least a few snaps, along with the rest of New York’s starters, but Glenn said the quarterback got banged up in the team’s joint practice with the Buccaneers on Wednesday and the Jets opted to rest him in favor of Klubnik.

“Thursday, I told him he wasn't going to play — precautionary,” Glenn said. “Then I went right to Cade and told him he would be the starter, which he was champing at the bit to be able to do.”

Klubnik looked confident and competent against the Buccaneers, who sat their starters on both sides of the ball.

The former Clemson star, working with the starting offense, completed a 12-yard pass to Mason Taylor to begin the 12-play, 65-yard opening drive. He had completions of 21 and 11 yards to Garrett Wilson on third-down plays, but threw incomplete to Wilson in the end zone on third-and-goal from the Buccaneers 9. New York settled for Cade York's 27-yard field goal.

Klubnik came on with the Jets' backups on their second possession and got things started with a 5-yard pass to first-rounder Omar Cooper Jr. Braelon Allen, back from a knee injury that limited him to four games last season, capped the drive with a 31-yard dash into the end zone to make it 10-0.

That was all for Klubnik, who finished 5 of 7 for 56 yards.

"I give him a lot of credit going out there and operating the way that he did," Glenn said. “Not surprised, not one bit with him. He did a good job.”

Klubnik was replaced by Bailey Zappe, who had an interception returned 47 yards for a touchdown by undrafted rookie Ayden Garnes on his first series.

Zappe's second series also ended by being picked off, this time by Rashad Wisdom. Zappe finished 6 of 10 for 55 yards and the two INTs before being replaced in the third quarter by Brady Cook, who started the final four games for the Jets last season.

Third-string quarterback Connor Bazelak started for the Buccaneers with Baker Mayfield and the starters sitting out and backup Jake Browning unavailable.

Browning was expected to start, but he tweaked his back during the Buccaneers' joint practice with the Jets on Tuesday.

On Tampa Bay's third drive, Bazelak nearly had a touchdown pass to third-rounder Ted Hurst III, but undrafted rookie Mory Bamba knocked it out of his hands in the end zone. The Bucs settled for a 23-yard field goal by Chase McLaughlin.

Bazelak was 12 of 20 for 72 yards before being replaced by undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels for Tampa Bay's first possession of the second half.

Daniels' first NFL series was capped by Josh Williams' 12-yard touchdown run that put the Buccaneers up 17-13.

Daniels, who played parts of six seasons at Kansas, capped the scoring by running the ball up the middle for a 1-yard touchdown with 3:24 left. He was 10 of 15 for 111 yards and ran for 9 yards and the score on three carries.

“He was calm under pressure and he let the system work for him, as opposed to just trying to make a play and be seen,” Bucs coach Todd Bowles said. “He did some very good things tonight from a poise standpoint.”

Bamba, who had four passes defensed for the Jets, returned in the fourth quarter after being checked for a head injury late in the third.

Buccaneers: Host Kansas City on Aug. 22.

Jets: At Pittsburgh on Aug. 21.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Josh Williams (18) scores a touchdown during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the New York Jets, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ayden Garnes (24) runs from New York Jets wide receiver Tim Patrick (17) while returning an interception for a touchdown during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Jets running back Braelon Allen (0) celebrates with teammates after a touchdown run during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

New York Jets quarterback Cade Klubnik (10) throws a pass during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

New York Jets quarterback Cade Klubnik runs up field during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

ATLANTA (AP) — Jarrett Stidham threw a touchdown pass in his bid to keep his hold on Denver’s backup job and Jahdae Barron returned an interception 97 yards for a touchdown as the Broncos overwhelmed the Atlanta Falcons 27-7 on Friday night in the preseason opener for both teams.

Stidham completed 9 of 15 passes for 131 yards, including a 5-yard scoring pass to Jaleel McLaughlin, while playing the first half.

“He's really good with the operation,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said about Stidham. “I thought he handled it well.”

Payton announced Wednesday starting quarterback Bo Nix would not play against Atlanta. Nix is expected to make his preseason debut next week at home against Green Bay. Sam Ehlinger played the second half, completing 10 of 14 passes for 67 yards, after Stidham led the Broncos to a 24-0 halftime lead.

Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 3 of 5 passes for 22 yards while playing two series. Tagovailoa's expected competition for the starting job has been on hold with Michael Penix Jr. still not cleared for team drills as he continues his recovery from surgery on his left knee.

Cooper Rush, who played behind Tagovailoa, threw two interceptions, including Barron's pick returned for a touchdown. A deflection by linebacker Karene Reid on Rush's pass for Chris Blair set up the interception.

Two prominent Atlanta starters, running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London, were in uniform but did not play. The Falcons were held to 192 yards in the debut for coach Kevin Stefanski.

“There's plenty to clean up,” Stefanski said. “I thought it was great being in our building, for a lot of us being in here for the first time.”

Stefanski said the offense “didn't move the ball wall.” Asked to evaluate Tagovailoa's performance, Stefanski said “It's hard to give a grade on that sample size” of only nine snaps.

A fumble by McLaughlin set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Atlanta's third quarterback, undrafted rookie Jack Strand, late in the third quarter. Penix and Tagovailoa made sure Strand was given the ball from the touchdown on the quarterback sneak.

“That was cool for sure,” Strand said. “... They've been so supportive of me this whole training camp.”

Falcons second-year edge rusher James Pearce Jr. had two tackles as a backup hours after the NFL announced his suspension without pay for the first eight games of the season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. The suspension begins Aug. 30 and he will be eligible for reinstatement Nov. 2. He is expected to play in the remaining preseason games.

Pearce's suspension was the second major hit to the Falcons' pass rush, following Jalon Walker's season-ending torn ACL in his left knee. Pearce led Atlanta with 10.5 sacks as a rookie. Walker had 5.5 sacks.

Payton said first-year offensive coordinator Davis Webb enjoyed a “smooth” debut.

“Davis was on point,” Payton said.

A new Field Turf playing surface was installed at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the NFL season after real grass was used for eight World Cup soccer games this summer.

Broncos: Linebacker Levelle Bailey was carted off the field with an ankle injury and listed as questionable.

Falcons: Stefanski said left tackle Jake Matthews, who left the game after one series, “was dealing with something but he's OK.”

Broncos: Host Green Bay next Friday.

Falcons: Following joint practices at the Colts next week, Atlanta will play at Indianapolis on Aug. 22.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Goodson (25) runs against the Denver Broncos during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Lesser)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush (13) passes during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Lesser)

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Chris Blair (19) makes a catch against Denver Broncos safety Jl Skinner (34) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Denver Broncos cornerback Jahdae Barron (23) returns an interception for a touchdown during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Lesser)

Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham (8) passes during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)