Giants 23, Jets 6: Zvada Wins the Job, Trayanum Leaves on a Cart

August 28, 2026 - East Rutherford - Chip Trayanum scored from a yard, then left on a cart in a neck brace. The MetLife crowd went quiet. Jets players dropped to a knee.

The New York Giants still beat the New York Jets 23-6. John Harbaugh's first Giants preseason closed 2-1. Aaron Glenn's Jets finished 1-2.

Jaxson Dart never took a snap. Geno Smith stayed down, too. Jameis Winston started. Fourth-rounder Cade Klubnik started for New York's other club. Breece Hall did not need the tape.

Ten straight runs, then a hospital ride

Marcelino McCrary-Ball intercepted Winston on a ball intended for Odell Beckham Jr. Qwan'tez Stiggers got a hand on it. The Jets ran the next 10 plays. Trayanum carried nine of them, including the 1-yard score. Klubnik scrambled 6 yards for the other rush. Jason Sanders missed the extra point wide left.

Glenn and Harbaugh sat almost every projected starter. Trayanum finished 12 carries for 38 yards. With 10 seconds left in the half, the Jets handed it to him again near their own goal line. Trace Ford hit him. The team said the undrafted Toledo rookie was awake, alert, and moving all extremities. Glenn told reporters he thought Trayanum would be just fine.

McCrary-Ball also punched the ball out of Braxton Berrios' hands. Stiggers recovered in the end zone for a touchback. The Jets went three-and-out. Tyrone Tracy Jr. ran 16 yards. Beckham caught 23. Tracy scored from 6 with 28 seconds left in the first quarter. 7-6 Giants.

Tracy left in the second quarter to be evaluated for a concussion and was cleared to return.

Zvada, Haener, and a 23-6 MetLife night

Klubnik played the whole first half: 6 of 13, 59 yards, an interception to Zaire Barnes, his first turnover of the preseason. "Overall, not my best ball," he said. Glenn called him up and down and declined to name him the No. 2 behind Smith. Bailey Zappe took the third quarter. Brady Cook played the fourth. Sanders was short from 54.

Beckham caught three passes for 53 yards. Winston overthrew him on a deep ball that would have been 73 yards if the 33-year-old had gotten a fingertip on it. Harbaugh said he thought Beckham had done enough to make an NFL roster.

Dominic Zvada, an undrafted rookie, made field goals from 23, 53, and 46. Harbaugh named him the kicker. Jake Haener, signed last week, hit Xavier Gipson for 37 yards and the closing touchdown with 10:30 left.

Glenn said cornerback Tre Brown went to a hospital with a finger injury. Joseph Ossai left with a foot injury. Rookie guard Anez Cooper was ruled out with a right shoulder. Cam Camper was evaluated for a concussion and cleared.

AthX Engine, if this were a regular-season card

AthX Engine NFL scoring on Friday's verified lines:

Tracy's rushing touchdown is 6 fantasy points plus rush yards. Gipson's 37-yard catch is a receiving score plus yardage. Klubnik's interception is a negative on the QB card. Sanders' missed extra point and miss from 54 sit on the kicker table. Preseason games are not stored as AthX Engine weekly lines yet.

Fantasy points measure the box. Price is what traders will pay when Dart and Smith are actually in September plans.

Track Dart, Smith, and the Giants and Jets on the marketplace. The Giants host Dallas on Sunday night Sept. 13. The Jets visit Tennessee the same day.

*Sources: AP recap, Giants.com, Jets.com, ESPN, NFL.com schedules. Information only; not financial advice.*