Teddy Bridgewater’s decision to retire (again) on Sunday forced the Detroit Lions to make a quick move to replace him so that they aren’t going into the regular season with an undrafted rookie as the team’s QB2.
There were limited options for the Lions with just a month until the regular season begins, but they also couldn’t go through preseason play with just one backup.
Brad Holmes acted quickly and signed veteran backup Josh Dobbs to a one-year deal worth a little over $1.4 million. A year ago, Dobbs backed up Drake Maye, who happens to be one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL, and the Patriots made the Super Bowl with him as QB2. He only attempted 10 passes over the course of four games, but the Super Bowl runner-up felt good about him as the backup.
The Lions should, too.
While Bridgewater was a fan favorite as the backup, he had attempted just 15 total passes since 2022, and none of them came with the Lions despite spending two seasons in Detroit. As for Dobbs, he’s attempted 474 passes in that same span, he’s two years younger, and he just played for a team that went to the Super Bowl. You can’t ask for much more from a last-minute QB2 signee.
Dobbs also has starting experience. In the 27 games that he’s appeared in at the NFL level, he’s started 15 of them. He has 3,346 yards and 17 touchdowns with a 63 percent completion rate.
Obviously, he doesn’t have the same experience as Bridgewater, but Dobbs has started 13 games since 2022, and his predecessor has started zero in that same span. Given the options still available, this was a great move by Holmes and the front office.
You can’t ask for a much better QB2.
Josh Dobbs can step in for emergency duty
The Lions had a few interesting free agency options at quarterback after Bridgewater stepped away again.
They could have swung Russell Wilson away from TV, where he’s signed on to be an analyst for the upcoming season, but he hasn’t looked like himself in years. They could have also gone after veteran Jimmy Garoppolo or guys like John Wolford, Brett Rypien, or Jeff Driskel.
But people seem to forget that Dobbs took over when Kyler Murray went down with an injury a couple of years ago, starting eight games and throwing for over 1,500 yards and eight touchdowns. He also rushed for 258 yards and three scores before the Minnesota Vikings were desperate for a quarterback and made a trade for him.
With Minnesota, he had 895 yards and five touchdowns over four starts. He was the emergency replacement for Kirk Cousins that season, and he went 2-2 in the four starts.
If the Lions, for some reason, need Dobbs to step up in place of Jared Goff, they should feel pretty good about him holding down the fort at least temporarily. He’s good enough to make plays with his arm and legs, and he doesn’t make a ton of mistakes.
Dobbs is a really solid signing considering the circumstances.
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