NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Cade Klubnik was watching the Seahawks-Patriots game Wednesday night with his wife and got a reminder of how close he is to playing when Seattle starting quarterback Sam Darnold was injured on the fifth play of the game.
Klubnik, a fourth-round pick from Clemson, was named the Jets’ No. 2 quarterback at the end of training camp and is now one play away from being under center if starter Geno Smith goes down.
“It’s definitely a reality check for sure,” Klubnik said. “My wife and I are watching that like, ‘Dang. Hey Drew [Lock] is in.’ But I’m just trying to be the best teammate I can be for everybody else and just get Geno in the best possible situation.
“I’ll do anything he needs me to do. And, you know, just create the best opportunity for this team.”
Klubnik had some good moments this summer, but the decision to have the rookie as Smith’s primary backup over a veteran raised some eyebrows. If Smith gets injured in the opener Sunday, do the Jets really believe Klubnik is ready?
“He wouldn’t be our No. 2 if we didn’t have a true belief in who he was as a person, a player, as quarterback, as someone who can lead this team,” Jets coach Aaron Glenn said. “That’s a very valued position. You look across the league — it just happened the first game of the season.
“So, we thought about it quite a bit and I like the decision that we made.”
Glenn has said the decision is partially based on giving Klubnik maximum practice reps to help his development.
Klubnik ran the scout team this week, a role he has not been in since his freshman year of high school.
In addition to learning Tennessee’s plays, Klubnik is also trying to stay ready to run the Jets offense if needed.
“Mental reps, man. You know every second counts,” Klubnik said. “And you know just watching the tape over and over and learning the game plan and always being ready. I did that my freshman year of college. You just gotta stay ready.
“And you’ve got to prepare every single week like you’re the starter because you never know when your moment might come and it might never come. But I’m prepared.”
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The Jets ruled out RB/KR Kene Nwangwu on Saturday. Nwangwu experienced back tightness Thursday and was listed as doubtful by the Jets, but he was downgraded Saturday. … WR Tim Patrick (groin) was placed on injured reserve. … Jason Sanders was elevated from the practice squad and will handle kicking duties against the Titans.
