The Giants beat the Jets 23-6 in the preseason finale at MetLife Stadium, and the final score only tells part of the story. The useful story is how quickly a promising opening drive gave way to a quiet offense, because the six points the Jets scored on their first possession were the only points they scored all night.
Two early defensive takeaways gave the Jets their best stretch of the game, but the offense went silent after the opening touchdown drive. Cade Klubnik did not settle the backup quarterback question. Jason Sanders made a just finalized kicking decision uncomfortable. Chip Trayanum’s late neck injury changed what mattered most by the final whistle. It left the Jets with more to sort out before this weekend’s cuts.
Two Early Takeaways Gave the Jets Their Best Stretch
The Jets’ best sequence of the night came on defense, not offense. On the Giants’ opening possession, T’Vondre Sweat tipped Jameis Winston’s pass, Qwan’tez Stiggers knocked the deflected ball loose downfield, and Marcelino McCrary-Ball intercepted it and returned it to the Giants’ 36-yard line, according to the official Jets game recap. The Jets turned that takeaway into their only touchdown drive. On the Giants’ next possession, McCrary-Ball forced Braxton Berrios to fumble, and Stiggers recovered in the end zone for a touchback. The Jets followed the second takeaway with a three-and-out.
For a brief stretch, the defense gave the Jets field position and two extra possessions. The first takeaway led to six points; the second ended in a three-and-out. That was the night’s best Jets sequence, but it did not last. For more on where the roster stood before kickoff, see JetCast’s final practice report.
The Offense Disappeared After the Opening Drive
The Jets’ only points came on their opening possession, and it did not look like a preseason finale possession. New York ran the ball ten straight times to open the game, nine carries from Chip Trayanum and one six-yard scramble from Cade Klubnik, before Trayanum punched it in from one yard out. Jason Sanders missed the extra point, and the Jets led 6-0 without ever attempting a pass.
That opening drive accounted for all six Jets points. Per the ESPN box score, the Jets finished with 97 gross passing yards, but three sacks trimmed that to 68 net passing yards for the game. New York finished with 20 rushes, half of them on the first drive, and no later possession produced points. The opening plan never became a sustainable offense. JetCast’s Steelers preseason recap offers context for how Klubnik’s reserve offense looked a week earlier.
Cade Klubnik Did Not Settle the Backup Job
Klubnik’s line was uneven: 6 of 13 passing for 59 yards, no touchdowns, one interception, plus his six-yard scramble on the opening drive. The interception came in the second quarter, when Zaire Barnes picked off Klubnik for his first turnover of the preseason. Klubnik called it “not my best ball” afterward, and Aaron Glenn described the performance as “up and down,” according to the ESPN game recap.
Klubnik and Glenn described the same uneven night. Glenn declined to name him the No. 2 quarterback after the game. JetCast tracked Klubnik’s audition through the summer in the Steelers preseason game and the Buccaneers preseason reaction. The Giants game left the decision unsettled.
Jason Sanders Made the Kicking Decision Uncomfortable
Sanders missed the extra point wide left after Trayanum’s touchdown, then came up short on a 54-yard field goal attempt later in the game. He finished the night 0 for 1 on field goals and 0 for 1 on extra points. The timing matters. Per the Jets Wire instant analysis, the Jets had settled on Sanders over Cade York earlier in the week, which made this his first game as the established choice rather than a competitor still auditioning.
Aaron Glenn said afterward that the Jets would not panic, noted Sanders had been good in practice, and said the team would evaluate the direction, according to the official Jets recap. Friday’s misses immediately put pressure on a decision made only days earlier.
Chip Trayanum’s Injury Changed the Night
Before the injury, Trayanum carried 12 times for 38 yards and a touchdown, then added two catches for 25 yards. On the final play of the first half, he sustained a neck injury, was immobilized on the field, and was taken to a hospital.
The Jets said Trayanum was awake, alert, and had movement in all extremities. Aaron Glenn told reporters he thought Trayanum would be “just fine,” a comment carried in the AP update on Trayanum’s status. The team’s update became the most important news from the night.
What the Jets Carry Into Roster Cuts
Trayanum was not the only injured Jet. Glenn said cornerback Tre Brown was taken to a hospital because of a finger injury. Joseph Ossai left with a foot injury. Rookie guard Anez Cooper was ruled out with a right shoulder injury. Cam Camper was evaluated for a concussion and cleared, while Dominic Richardson injured an elbow. Those details are in ESPN’s injury rundown.
The calendar moves quickly. Roster cuts to 53 players are due by 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, and waiver claims are due by 1 p.m. ET on Monday. Most projected starters rested, so Friday’s tape centered on reserves and roster hopefuls. The Jets have the full summer to weigh alongside an uneven Klubnik outing and Sanders’ rough first game after the kicking decision. JetCast’s early roster math is in the training camp roster projection, and the summer’s standout rookie performances are in the rookie grades from training camp. The opening touchdown and two takeaways gave evaluators useful tape. The scoreless possessions that followed gave them more work.