The New York Jets have kicked off the 2026 NFL preseason with a losing effort, falling 24-16 to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday at MetLife Stadium.
While the defeat won't count and the stats do not matter, it all does to the locker room and Aaron Glenn's coaching staff. And even though the Jets did fall on the scoreboard, there were positives to take away from this one as well.
With that, here are Jets Wire's five takeaways from Week 1 of the preseason:
We wait for Geno
It was return of quarterback Geno Smith in East Rutherford (as a member of the Jets, at least).
Or was it...?
It was not. Prior to the game, Glenn decided not to play Smith despite playing other starters on offense such as running back Breece Hall and wide receiver Garrett Wilson.
Klubnik stands out under center
Without Smith,
it was fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik under center for the first snap of the game for the Jets offense.
It must be noted that the backup offensive line play for the Jets looked worrisome. However, it was Klubnik who stood out much more than the likes of Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook.
It a perceived to be a battle between Klubnik and Zappe to be QB2. Kiubnik is up one.
Klubnik led the Jets down the field on the opening drive of the game, and while New York settled for a field goal, Klubnik connected well with Wilson in the air. Meanwhile, Zappe's first pass was a pick-six interception and he tossed two picks in the contest.
Klubnik finished 5-for-7 passing with 56 yards. Zappe was 6-for-10 with 55 yards.
Standout first-round rookie
Of the Jets' three first-round rookies, it was wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr. that looked best against the Buccaneers. On three targets, he had two catches for 31 yards and put in the extra effort:
Two-straight plus plays for Jets rookie Omar Cooper Jr.: Wide open on the dig, Zappe delivers it, love the no-nonsense north-south cut and go.
— Robby Sabo (@RobbySabo) August 15, 2026
He draws a would-be DPI, front pylon, shorter-arrow fade-type, and it's notable bc he LOCATED the ball in time. Sure, Zappe was very…
In his own right, edge defender David Bailey had one tackle in the game.
UDFA steps up
If this one is remembered for anything, it will be as the "Mory Bamba game." The Jets signed the UDFA cornerback out of BYU after the 2026 NFL Draft. He had a special effort.
Bamba stopped everything thrown his way, including a close touchdown pass for the Buccaneers that he knocked out of the receivers' hands. Remember the name, not that it will be hard if your music genre of choice is hip-hop.
Mory Bamba at the half
— PFF (@PFF) August 15, 2026
4 targets as primary defender 🔒
2 pass breakups 🔒
0 receptions allowed 🔒
0 pass yards allowed 🔒 pic.twitter.com/4wWJVCLogA
Special teams right where it left off
While the 2025 season was one to forget for the Jets, the special teams effort throughout the entire year was excellent. Special teams coordinator Chris Banjo had his unit in mid-season form as Cade York connected from 38 yards and Jason Sanders did from 47.
Not to mention this punt from Thomas McNamara:
The @nyjets special teams picks up where they left off last year. Hell of a punt by McNamara and a great play by Malik McClain to down it inside the 1-yard line. pic.twitter.com/HEf32tGsFb
— Glenn Naughton (@JNRadio_Glenn) August 15, 2026
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: 5 takeaways from the Jets' 24-16 preseason loss to the Buccaneers
