With veteran QB Geno Smith was a spectator in the final preseason game, so Jets rookie QB Cade Klubnik got his second start, facing the local rival Giants at MetLife Stadium on Friday night. Klubnik played a half in the 23-6 loss, completing 6-of-13 for 59 yards. He was intercepted once and sacked once.

"Overall, not my best ball," Klubnik said. "I thought we did some good things, though. I thought at times that our offense was really rolling, and then at times we just weren't getting in rhythm. And that starts with me and getting the guys going."

With NFL teams required to trim their rosters to 53 players (with a 16-man practice squad) by 6 p.m. on Sunday, HC Aaron Glenn held out most of his front-line players, primarily on offense.  Klubnik, a Round 4 selection (No. 110 overall) out of Clemson in April's NFL Draft, had favorable field position to start after Marcelino McCrary-Ball intercepted a deflected Jameis Winston pass on the game's first series and returned it 19 yards to the Giants' 36-yard line.

But Klubnik didn't have an opportunity to put the ball in the air on what ended up being a 10-play drive, all on the ground, led by RB Chip Trayanum's 9 carries for 30 yards and a 1-yard dive for the TD behind a block by TE Jelani Woods.

On the seventh play of the drive, Klubnik was forced to scramble after he got the handle on a low snap from center, and went for 6 yards. Three plays later, Trayanum rolled into the end zone for a touchdown.

After the defense forced another turnover, Klubnik's first two passes of the night -- catchable balls intended first for Junior Bergen and then Malik McClain -- fell incomplete. On third down, Klubnik found Woods near the home sideline for 5 yards, forcing a punt by Austin McNamara.

Klubnik opened the Jets' third possession with a short connection, his second to Woods, to end the first quarter. Another short pass, for 3 yards to Trayanum, was followed by a 22-yard catch-and-run after Trayanum was able to handle a low throw from Klubnik. But on the next play, Klubnik's pass intended for Woods came up short and was intercepted by former Jets LB Zaire Barnes at the Giants' 27-yard line. 
"I thought Cade was up and down, and listen, he made some plays," Glenn said after the game. He added: "He's a very intelligent player. So, the good thing is they happen now, so we can look at the film and try to correct those things."

Trailing by 10-6 with 2:07 left in the first half, Klubnik's final effort of the night started seconds before the 2-minute warning. Klubnik's first-down pass went for 14 yards to WR Cam Camper. A 25-yard pass to McClain McLain was nullified when Xavier Newman was ruled to be an ineligible man downfield. Another completion to Camper for 12 yards got the Jets to the Giants' 32. But the drive stalled and Klubnik was sacked on third-and-13, knocking the Jets out of field-goal range.

"Third downs, we have to be better versus simulated pressures and then finding an answer," Klubnik said. "I have to get us into a better play that's going to work and find an answer."
Although Klubnik wasn't satisfied with his effort, the Jets were encouraged by his growth throughout training camp and in three preseason games.

Asked for his assessment of Klubnik, Friday night and overall, GM Darren Mougey said: "Cade's had a good camp. We've seen growth through OTAs, through training camp. He's got some moxie. He's got poise. He's played a lot of college football, but there's nothing like NFL reps. It doesn't matter if you're the number one overall pick, seventh pick, any position coming to the NFL there's a lot to learn, especially at quarterback."