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Cade Klubnik was held out of practice on Tuesday with back stiffness.
He also missed last week’s practice (open to the media) due to this back issue.
Some might not consider this a big deal, but it is if you think they should be the primary backup.
He needs every single rep he can get in the spring, not just to get comfortable in Frank Reich’s system, but to work with Reich and QB coach Bill Musgrave on some aspects of his game, coming off an inconsistent final season at Clemson.
From NFL.com’s Lance Zeirlien before the draft:
- Rushes and misses open throws when he gets out of rhythm.
- Missed wide open touchdown throws in the face of pressure.
- Loses firmness of platform as he works through his progressions.
- Below-average field vision to quickly diagnose coverages.
A lot of natural ability, but has a lot to work on, like most rookies.
So, missing practice in the spring of his rookie year, is not ideal, but Aaron Glenn did the smart thing, not risking making a minor back strain into something worse.
But just like Kenyon Sadiq (groin) missing time in the spring, that is never the best-case scenario with a rookie trying to move up the growth curve fast in his initial NFL season.
I have made my position on this clear – the Jets need to have a veteran #2 QB behind Geno Smith, and Klubnik should be in the #3/developmental spot.
Too much to work on – not ready to be one snap away, especially early in the season . . .
With Klubnik out, second-year QB Brady Cook got a lot of reps today, and while he made some nice throws, he still needs some work on his accuracy, like when he overthrew fullback Andrew Beck in the left corner of the end zone . . .
I honestly thought that AZ Thomas and Nahshon Wright were going to compete for the starting cornerback job opposite Brandon Stephens, but reading the tea leaves, you get the sense that is not the case. You just get the sense they are going to go with Wright.
Now, some might think this is a no-brainer, with Wright coming off a five-pick season for the Chicago Bears, and we all know how bad the Jets need a ballhawk, coming off a season with no defensive interceptions.
But the only reservation about Wright being the full-time starter, not a situational player, is his feast-or-famine nature. Yes, he has very good ball skills, but at 6-4, and with very long legs, he sometimes has issues cutting with shorter, quicker targets, having to gather to cut, as opposed to cutting a dime (like a shorter corner like D’Angelo Ponds) and staying in the receiver’s hip pocket. This is a common problem for very tall corners – short area quickness due to long legs.
The key is getting a consistent, quick pass rush, so Wright doesn’t have to hold up on an island too long and deal with double moves. With a good pass rush, Wright is outstanding. If he has to hold up on an island against a smaller, quicker target for too long, that is where he could have some issues.
Wright had a nice PD on a pass to tight end Chase Curtis on the right side of the end zone.
This is a perfect matchup for him, going up for a jump ball against a 6-5 tight end . . .
Speaking of corners, Geno Smith hit Garrett Wilson down the left sideline for a long gain, or so it seemed, but Stephens ripped the ball out at the last second.
While Wilson is a heck of a receiver, he can sometimes have issues on contested passes because he’s not the most powerfully built receiver. 50-50 balls can be a challenge for him at a slender 6-0, 183 pounds.
He’s at his best cutting away from people in the open field, creating big catching windows for the QB and then running after the catch . . .
Jets second-year linebacker Kiko Mauigoa, who struggled in coverage a little as a rookie, looks like he’s improved in that area with yet another PD today, knocking a pass away from rookie running back Chip Trayanum (Toledo) . . .
June 16, 2026
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