RADIO
Geno Smith Won't Play in Preseason Opener Due to Foot Soreness
New York Jets veteran quarterback Geno Smith (foot) will not play in the team's preseason opener on Friday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to foot soreness, a source told Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network. The Jets are not concerned about the injury, though, and if it were a regular-season game, Smith would be a go. Depending on how Smith recovers in the next week, he could be active for the second preseason contest next Friday, Aug. 21, against the Pittsburgh Steelers. With the 35-year-old now sitting out on Friday, rookie Cade Klubnik, Brady Cook, and Bailey Zappe will split the reps under center for the Jets. Smith flopped last year in his lone season with the Las Vegas Raiders, throwing for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and a league-high 17 interceptions in 15 starts while being benched late in the year. He has more intriguing offensive weapons to work with in New York than he did in Vegas, but at best, Smith will probably be no better than a potential QB2 bounce-back candidate in superflex fantasy formats.
Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
Source: NFL Network - Mike Garafolo
Cade Klubnik Leads Long Touchdown Drive in Team Scrimmage
With the New York Jets holding an intrasquad scrimmage on Saturday, rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik looked sharp in simulated game action, leading a 50-yard touchdown drive against a unit made up mostly of Jets starting defenders. Klubnik connected with Jamaal Pritchett on a high fade into the corner of the end zone for a 14-yard touchdown, according to ESPN's Rich Cimini, adding a highlight to what has been reported as an up-and-down training camp. The Jets spent a fourth-round pick on the former five-star recruit, and in a battle with Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe for the backup job behind 35-year-old Geno Smith, his appeal is evident in dynasty leagues, particularly should things go south for the Jets in 2026 and the team wants to see him in a starting role. At RotoBaller's dynasty QB46, Klubnik is not a player who needs to be actively targeted, but for managers who landed him in rookie drafts, he's a worthwhile stash.
Source: Rich Cimini
Source: Rich Cimini
Geno Smith Attacking All Three Levels at Jets Camp
New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith has consistently looked to attack all three levels of the field during training camp, according to Connor Rogers. Rogers noted that Smith has pushed the ball downfield to the wide receivers while giving Omar Cooper Jr. and Isaiah Williams chances underneath. The tight ends have also been involved in the intermediate area. That approach is encouraging for Garrett Wilson and Adonai Mitchell, but it is still only an early look at Frank Reich's offense. Smith is coming off a difficult season with Las Vegas in which he threw for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions across 15 starts. RotoBaller currently ranks him as the QB30, which leaves him outside the standard redraft picture. A more aggressive passing game could help Smith outperform that ranking, but for now he remains a deep Superflex option rather than a dependable weekly starter.
Source: Connor Rogers
Source: Connor Rogers
Cade Klubnik Returns from Back Injury
New York Jets quarterback Cade Klubnik (back) was back on the practice field for the first day of training camp practice on Wednesday. Klubnik missed time during OTAs due to a lingering back tightness issue. He has now been cleared and resumed practicing on Wednesday. The fourth-round rookie is expected to compete with Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe for the No. 2 quarterback job behind Geno Smith. There is some developmental upside here with the Jets not being committed to 35-year-old Smith in the long-term. Klubnik is an interesting dynasty stash option for fantasy managers willing to play the waiting game.
Source: Rich Cimini
Source: Rich Cimini
Geno Smith Remains a Superflex-Only Option
New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith has the job. The fantasy ceiling is another question. Smith completed 67.4% of his passes for 3,025 yards and 19 touchdowns in Las Vegas last season, but he also led the NFL with 17 interceptions and was sacked 55 times across 15 starts. The Jets are giving him a different setup. Four starting offensive linemen return, and Garrett Wilson, Breece Hall, Adonai Mitchell, Kenyon Sadiq, and Omar Cooper Jr. give the offense several ways to move the ball. Aaron Glenn has already made it clear Smith will start, so volume should be there. His legs probably will not add much. Smith managed 109 rushing yards without a touchdown in 2025 and is now 35. RotoBaller ranks him QB31 for redraft and QB38 in dynasty. That makes him useful as a third quarterback in Superflex leagues, especially when the matchup is right. One-quarterback managers can wait. Smith would need a sharp passing rebound to become more than a streamer.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cade Klubnik Could Earn Backup Job as a Rookie
The New York Jets spent a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnick, and ESPN's Jets reporter Rich Cimini believes he will earn the primary backup job as a rookie. In a pre-training camp 53-man roster projection, Cimini sees New York keeping only two quarterbacks to start the year, with Klubnik edging out Brady Cook and Bailey Zappe for the remaining spot behind 13th-year veteran Geno Smith. Smith is coming off a forgettable 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders, and should his struggles follow him to the Jets, the opportunity could arise for New York's backup to see meaningful action by the end of the season. Klubnik is RotoBaller's dynasty QB46, but any playing time as a rookie would almost certainly improve his stock, making him an intriguing target in the later rounds of dynasty startups.
Source: Rich Cimini
Source: Rich Cimini
Cade Klubnik Will Have an Opportunity to Win the Backup QB Job
New York Jets rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik impressed the coaching staff during offseason workouts, figures to get plenty of reps during the preseason, and will have an opportunity to win the backup job and "perhaps lay the groundwork for late-season playing time," according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. Klubnik's progress in the spring was impeded when he missed the last two weeks of practice with back tightness, but before that, he was doing "a really good job," according to head coach Aaron Glenn. The 22-year-old fourth-rounder out of Clemson will compete with Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook for the backup job behind veteran Geno Smith in training camp this summer. Jets coaches don't think Klubnik's mechanics need much work; he just needs experience. Offensive coordinator Frank Reich said Klubnik is "pretty charismatic" with "high emotional intelligence" and "natural leadership instincts." "He's got a good base, a good rhythm. He's got plenty good grip [on the ball], so there's not a lot of slipping in mid-motion. Those balls aren't coming unraveled when he throws it. He throws a nice, tight spiral," QBs coach Bill Musgrave said. Klubnik can be ignored in 2026 redraft leagues, and he'll be a developmental QB to stash in dynasty/keeper formats.
Source: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
Source: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
Geno Smith's Battery Case Now Considered "Inactive"
New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith's battery case is now considered "inactive" by the Davie Police Department, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Smith was accused of battery in Florida in June, but it's no longer an active investigation, and the veteran signal-caller shouldn't face any discipline from the NFL in 2026. The 35-year-old two-time Pro Bowler had a season to forget in 2025 with the Las Vegas Raiders, going 2-13 with 3,025 passing yards, 19 touchdowns, and a league-high 17 interceptions in 15 starts. The Jets, who took Smith in the second round in 2013 out of the University of West Virginia, decided it was a good idea to trade for Smith after moving on from the failed Justin Fields experiment. Perhaps New York is hoping Smith will secure the services of the first overall pick in 2027 for the second straight season in new coordinator Frank Reich's offense. Smith might not be as bad as he was in 2026 in Vegas, but he should be going undrafted in all but deep two-QB superflex formats as he embarks on his 13th year in the NFL.
Source: The Athletic - Zack Rosenblatt
Source: The Athletic - Zack Rosenblatt
Geno Smith Being Investigated After Battery Accusation
New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith is being investigated for an incident in which a woman accused him of battery, according to Rich Cimini of ESPN. Police officers were summoned to Smith's home in Florida on Sunday after a woman claiming to be his ex-girlfriend called 911 and said she was assaulted by him. Nobody was arrested or taken into custody at the scene, with the Davie Police Department saying on Monday that it's "not an active case" and is still being reviewed. "We were informed [Monday] evening that, during review, it was determined that this case is being further investigated by detectives. It is active, and we cannot release any additional information at this time," a police spokesperson said in an update on Tuesday. After a rough season with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025, in which he led the league with 17 interceptions, the Jets acquired him in a trade this offseason, and he's expected to open the 2026 season as their starter, barring a suspension from the league. Even if Smith isn't disciplined by the NFL for this off-the-field incident, he'll be an unattractive low-end QB2 in superflex leagues in 2026.
Source: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
Source: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
Jets Not Interested in Brendan Sorsby?
ESPN's Rich Cimini writes that one person close to the situation doubts that the New York Jets will be interested in former Texas Tech quarterback Brendan Sorsby in the NFL supplemental draft. The source suggested that the Jets "don't want to deal with it." Sorsby is a talented (some suggest he's a first-round talent) but controversial prospect because he admitted to gambling during his time in college. If the NFL approves Sorsby's application to enter the NFL's supplemental draft, media speculation suggests it would take a second-round pick to secure him. The team that is awarded the player forfeits its pick in the equivalent of next year's NFL draft. Cimini writes that it would be "an absolute coup" if the Jets didn't have to sacrifice any of their three first-round picks in next year's draft, but it remains to be seen if they're willing to take on the Sorsby risk. Per the NFL's personal-conduct policy, Sorsby could face an immediate suspension from the league, and the prospect of discipline could be a deal-breaker for some teams. New York drafted QB Cade Klubnik in the fourth round this April, but Sorsby's ceiling is considered much higher.
Source: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
Source: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
Does Geno Smith Carry Buy-Low Appeal for Dynasty Contenders?
With the 2026 season now just a few months away, veteran quarterback Geno Smith appears likely to open the year as the QB for the New York Jets. Smith had a disastrous year as a member of the Las Vegas Raiders in 2025, completing 67.4% of his pass attempts for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions across 15 games. The 35-year-old averaged just 6.8 yards per pass attempt and also took a league-leading 55 sacks despite missing two games. While the Jets were one of the worst offenses in the NFL last season, the team should get a healthier season out of star wideout Garrett Wilson and also added wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. and tight end Kenyon Sadiq in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. New York should also put a much better offensive line in front of Smith than the line he played with in Las Vegas in 2025. Smith's dynasty upside is limited at this point in his career, but he could be worth buying low on as a depth option for dynasty contenders ahead of 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cade Klubnik is Dealing with Back Tightness
New York Jets quarterback Cade Klubnik (back) didn't take the practice field on Wednesday, according to head coach Aaron Glenn. The rookie quarterback is reportedly dealing with back tightness, so he'll get the day off to rest. The team expects Klubnik to be back and ready for next week's minicamp. The fourth-round pick is currently competing for the backup role to begin the season. The assumption is that Geno Smith will be the starter, but it's possible Klubnik pushes for the starting gig. Nonetheless, it sounds like a minor issue, so the Clemson standout will be ready to practice again soon.
Source: Rich Cimini
Source: Rich Cimini
Geno Smith a Low-Cost Dynasty Add Who Still Comes with Risk
New York Jets quarterback Geno Smith is RotoBaller's dynasty QB41, and following a disastrous season with the Raiders in which he threw for barely over 3,000 yards and nearly as many interceptions as touchdowns, the 35-year-old veteran has become one of the most easily acquirable starting quarterbacks in fantasy. With New York's offensive line notably stronger than the unit he played behind in Vegas, and the Jets boasting an exciting group of young pass catchers even behind 2022 Offensive Rookie of the Year Garrett Wilson, if Smith has anything left in the tank, his production should improve dramatically in 2026. While he should be capable of plugging in as a startable bye week or injury filler in superflex leagues, how much value he can provide if needed in a pinch during fantasy playoffs is a different question entirely. The Jets spent a fourth-round pick on Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, and with three first-round picks in a loaded 2027 NFL Draft and an eye toward the future, there's no certainty that Smith will be the one starting games to finish the season. For quarterback-desperate managers, Smith is still capable of exceeding his current trade value, but should he end 2026 riding the bench for another bad Jets team, any remaining dynasty value will fully disintegrate.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cade Klubnik Becoming Fan Favorite, in Play to Win Backup QB Job?
The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt writes that New York Jets fourth-round rookie quarterback Cade Klubnik is quickly becoming a fan favorite and could have a chance to win the backup job behind veteran Geno Smith to begin his first year in the NFL in 2026. Klubnik was accurate and threw the ball well in rookie minicamp over the weekend, although it was closer to a walkthrough pace than a full-blown practice tempo. The 22-year-old's draft stock fell after a poor final season at Clemson in 2025 in which he dealt with ankle and wrist injuries. The word "aura" is being thrown around explaining Klubnik's presence early on, and the Jets' decision to slow-play their pursuit of another veteran backup QB suggests that they could give Klubnik an opportunity to be Smith's backup. Klubnik's primary competition for that job will be Brady Cook. "He's a really smart man," head coach Aaron Glenn said. "We're going to push the envelope with (him) and see exactly where he's at and how he's going to be able to operate with our offense." Klubnik has a ways to go, but his dynasty stock should only continue to rise in a Jets organization planning to start Smith, who was one of the worst QBs in 2025.
Source: The Athletic - Zack Rosenblatt
Source: The Athletic - Zack Rosenblatt
