The NFL learned something about Josh Dobbs that Tennessee fans learned 10 years ago
The Dallas Cowboys entered Week 3 of the 2023 NFL season looking like the best team in the league. And they were quickly humbled by the Arizona Cardinals. Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Josh Dobbs led Arizona to a 28-16 win over the previously undefeated Cowboys on Sunday afternoon. Dobbs completed 17-of-21 passes for 189 yards […]
The Dallas Cowboys entered Week 3 of the 2023 NFL season looking like the best team in the league.
And they were quickly humbled by the Arizona Cardinals.
Former Tennessee Vols quarterback Josh Dobbs led Arizona to a 28-16 win over the previously undefeated Cowboys on Sunday afternoon.
Dobbs completed 17-of-21 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 55 yards on six attempts.
The win against Dallas is Dobbs' first win in the NFL as a starting quarterback. Dobbs, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers, made his first career start last season in Week 17 for the Tennessee Titans (oddly enough, that game was also against the Cowboys).
Considering how well Dobbs has played this season for the Cardinals (and in his two starts for the Titans last year), it's fair to question why it took so long for the former Vol to receive his first NFL start.
Diehard Vols fans likely remember that Dobbs wasn't a great practice player at Tennessee. For whatever reason, other quarterbacks practiced better than him and received opportunities in games ahead of Dobbs.
Justin Worley and Nate Peterman, for example, received chances to start in 2013 and 2014 at Tennessee before Dobbs — even though Dobbs proved to be Tennessee'e best option at quarterback.
(I was at several of those practices in 2013 and 2014 — it's true that Worley, Peterman and even Riley Ferguson, before he transferred, were more consistent than Dobbs.)
Dobbs is the definition of a gamer. When the lights come on, he's at his best. But when the bright lights aren't on, he just isn't quite as sharp. That's something that Tennessee fans have known since 2013. But the NFL — including owners, general managers, players, opposing fans, etc — are just now finding out.
It's a shame it took this long. Dobbs could've been a productive quarterback for a number of teams over the last six to seven years. Half of his career was essentially wasted because no one wanted to give him a chance in a game.
Fortunately, he's getting that chance now (while Kyler Murray is still out), but it's still hard to not think about what could've been for the former Vols standout.
Josh Dobbs tells the story of decommitting from Arizona State and signing with Tennessee
Josh Dobbs told the story of decommitting from Arizona State and signing with Tennessee at his intro press conference with the Arizona Cardinals
Featured image via Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
