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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jalon Daniels (10) reacts after a touchdown during an NFL preseason football game against the New York Jets in East Rutherford, N.J., Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (AP Photo\/Adam Hunger)<\/p>\n
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) \u2014 Rookie fourth-rounder Cade Klubnik led the New York Jets to scores on his two drives after a surprise start in place of Geno Smith in a 24-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the preseason opener for both teams Friday night.<\/p>\n
Klubnik, competing for the No. 2 quarterback job, opened the game under center when Smith was scratched because of a sore foot, a person with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press. Smith was expected to play at least a few snaps, along with the rest of New York\u2019s starters. But coach Aaron Glenn opted to rest him in favor of Klubnik.<\/p>\n
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team didn\u2019t announce the reason for Smith sitting out.<\/p>\n
Klubnik looked confident and competent against the Buccaneers, who sat their starters on both sides of the ball.<\/p>\n
The former Clemson star, working with the starting offense, completed a 12-yard pass to Mason Taylor to begin the 12-play, 55-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 a 27-yard field goal by Cade York.<\/p>\n
Klubnik came on with the Jets\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
That was all for Klubnik, who finished 5 of 7 for 56 yards. He was replaced by Bailey Zappe, who had an interception returned 47 yards for a touchdown by undrafted rookie Ayden Garnes on his first series.<\/p>\n
Zappe\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Bucs backups under center with Mayfield and Browning sitting<\/p>\n
Third-string quarterback Connor Bazelak started for the Buccaneers with Baker Mayfield and the starters sitting out and backup Jake Browning unavailable.<\/p>\n
Browning was expected to start, but he tweaked his back during the Buccaneers\u2019 joint practice with the Jets on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
On Tampa Bay\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Bazelak was 12 of 20 for 72 yards before being replaced by undrafted rookie Jalon Daniels for Tampa Bay\u2019s first possession of the second half.<\/p>\n
Daniels has a dynamic debut for the Bucs<\/p>\n
Daniels\u2019 first NFL series was capped by Josh Williams\u2019 12-yard touchdown run that put the Buccaneers up 17-13.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Injuries<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Up next<\/p>\n
Buccaneers: Host Kansas City on Aug. 22.<\/p>\n
Jets: At Pittsburgh on Aug. 21.<\/p>\n
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