The New York Jets fell to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-16 in their preseason debut at MetLife Stadium on Friday night. Starting quarterback Geno Smith was unavailable due to ankle soreness, opening the door for fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik to make his professional debut. Klubnik engineered two scoring drives in the first half, demonstrating poise and building early chemistry with receivers including Garrett Wilson and Mason Taylor.
However, the Jets’ backfield struggles overshadowed the promising start. Backup quarterback Bailey Zappe was plagued by turnovers, throwing two interceptions that proved costly as Tampa Bay rallied back into contention. Running back Braelon Allen provided a bright spot with 44 rushing yards and a 31-yard touchdown, while the Jets accumulated 91 total rushing yards. The offensive weapons on display suggest potential, but consistency remains a concern.
On the defensive side, the Jets’ reserves struggled significantly against Tampa Bay’s backup players. The pass rush generated minimal pressure, with only one sack recorded early in the contest. Josh Williams led the Buccaneers’ ground attack with 27 yards, while quarterback Jalon Daniels added a rushing touchdown late in the game. Special teams performed adequately, with kickers combining for three successful field goal attempts.
Head coach Aaron Glenn’s squad showed flashes of talent but inconsistency marred the preseason opener. The starting offense demonstrated versatility and weapons, yet the backup defensive unit’s inability to contain mostly reserve Tampa Bay players raised concerns heading into next week’s matchup against Pittsburgh.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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