CLEVELAND, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 18: Joshua Dobbs #15 of the Cleveland Browns throws the ball during warmups before the game against the New York Jets at FirstEnergy Stadium on September 18, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)
The Detroit Lions are in the market for a third quarterback again, with the Tennessee Titans signing Josh Dobbs on Wednesday.
After losing Tim Boyle off their practice squad to the Chicago Bears, the Detroit Lions worked out Josh Dobbs on Dec. 3 and signed him to their practice squad to be their No. 3 quarterback on Dec. 5. Dobbs had been released by the Cleveland Browns when they had to make room on their roster for Deshaun Watson.
On Wednesday morning, according to his agent Mike McCartney and confirmed by reporters, the Tennessee Titans signed Dobbs off the Lions practice squad to their active roster. Tennessee starting quarterback Ryan Tannehill (ankle) is apparently really up against the odds to play this weekend, so the Titans needed a healthy quarterback to backup rookie Malik Willis.
Detroit Lions lose Josh Dobbs, back in market for No. 3 quarterback
The Lions elevated Dobbs to the active roster before last week’s game against the New York Jets, which was odd on the face of it with No. 2 quarterback Nate Sudfeld not dealing with a known injury or illness.
Dobbs was inactive for the game, which wasn’t necessarily surprising when Sudfeld was not inactive. Erik Schlitt of Pride of Detroit pointed out the difference in salary for a practice squad guy vs. an NFL game check, and the Lions may have trying to get Dobbs to stay knowing a team could poach him off the practice squad at any point.
Upon signing him off the Lions’ practice squad, the Titans have to have Dobbs on their active roster for at least three weeks–at least three game checks in plainer terms. And with Tannehill so iffy to play, he’s in line to be Willis’ direct backup on Sunday against the Houston Texans with a better chance to play than he ever had with the Lions. Can’t blame him for taking the opportunity.
So now the Lions are looking for another No. 3 quarterback to get through the rest of the season, however long that may be.