Heading into Saturday's preseason clash against the Washington Commanders, the Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell said that the quarterback competition was wide open. Joshua Dobbs and Luke Altmyer would split the reps evenly, and they both had as good a chance as the other to secure the QB2 spot.
Considering that Dobbs was going to start the game and he is the more experienced, veteran option, many thought that he would establish himself as the favorite to earn the QB2 role.
Unfortunately for the 31-year-old signal-caller, that didn't happen. In fact, he has arguably fallen behind undrafted free agent Luke Altmyer in the pecking order.
Joshua Dobbs fails to help his chances to earn QB2 job
Dobbs rebounded nicely on Saturday after a disastrous start. In the first two drives of the game, Dobbs had two turnovers: a fumble and an interception. The fumble was the more costly mistake as it resulted in a Washington touchdown, but the interception was an egregious error. Attempting a difficult throw across the body, it was a preventable turnover by Dobbs.
Even the fact that he led the Lions on two touchdown drives, including a 50-yard scoring run, was not enough for Dobbs. His big-play potential and mobility are nice, but the boom-or-bust nature of his game may not be well-suited for a Super Bowl contender looking for a safe backup quarterback.
Altmyer's game was less flashy, but he made fewer mistakes. He completed nine of his 13 passes for 86 yards and finished with an 87.3 passer rating, compared to Dobbs' 41.7. It was a quiet but solid game for the young signal-caller.
This has followed a concerning trend for Dobbs. Ever since he joined the Lions after Teddy Bridgewater's abrupt retirement, the veteran QB hasn't made his presence felt. In the first preseason game, he only played one quarter. In practices leading up to the Commanders game, he barely saw any reps. Altmyer got the vast majority of the QB2 reps, leading many to question Dobbs' future in Detroit.
Dobbs has previously worked with offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, and he is the more proven veteran. The Lions will be more willing to look past his mistakes than they would Altmyer's. So, Dobbs can still earn himself the job between now and the roster cutdown date, but he has to do a better job in the preseason finale.
It's not like Dobbs is only competing against Altmyer. There will be quarterbacks who hit the open market after the 53-man rosters are finalized around the league. There will also be trade opportunities for signal-callers who may not make the final cut. Dobbs has to show that he is a better option than someone the Lions can acquire before the season. Until he does that, he will continue to be on the thinnest of ice.
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