Joshua Dobbs tumbles to QB3 for Vikings: Timeline of QB’s unlikely journey across seven different teams

Joshua Dobbs’ 2023 season and career has been nothing but a roller coaster. He went from being a fan favorite Minnesota’s new favorite player and affectionally earning the nickname “The Passtronaut” because of his degree in aerospace engineering and work with NASA after helping lead a 31-28 victory against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 9 to now being benched. 

Dobbs will be the emergency third quarterback for Minnesota when the Vikings visit the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 15 on Saturday, according to ESPN, behind newly named starter Nick Mullens and rookie backup Jaren Hall. Dobbs initially received game action in Week 9, after Hall suffered a concussion against the Falcons. 

A week after guiding a comeback upset as the last healthy quarterback on the Vikings roster, the journeyman signal-caller stole the spotlight in Week 10 against the New Orleans Saints. Starting in place of the injured Kirk Cousins, the former Cardinals castoff scored twice to lead Minnesota to a 24-3 halftime lead over the Saints, adding to a storied journey that included the abrupt trade from Arizona on Halloween.

His performances as a Viking were impressive given he entered a completely different offensive system than the one he was running in Arizona. His journey is notable because of how full circle his NFL career has been. He started his career as the Steelers third quarterback and after chances to start with the Tennessee Titans, Cardinals and Vikings, he has returned to the third quarterback role. Here’s a timeline of Dobbs’ unlikely NFL journey across seven different teams, in which he’s repeatedly surprised as a last-minute starter but failed to maintain sustained success as a full-time starting quarterback in the league. 

April 29, 2017

The Steelers select Dobbs in the fourth round of the NFL Draft out of Tennessee, slotting him in as the No. 3 QB behind longtime starter Ben Roethlisberger and backup Landry Jones.

Sept. 9, 2019

After three seasons on Pittsburgh’s bench, throwing just 12 passes in five game appearances, Dobbs is traded to the Jaguars for a fifth-round draft pick. Jacksonville plugs him in as an emergency backup with starter Nick Foles sidelined due to injury. While on the team, Dobbs partakes in an internship with NASA after majoring in aerospace engineering in college.

Sept. 6, 2020

After one season in Jacksonville, in which Dobbs doesn’t take a single snap, the QB is claimed off waivers by his original team, the Steelers, and returns to a No. 3 role behind Roethlisberger and Mason Rudolph.

Aug. 31, 2021

The Steelers place Dobbs on injured reserve after he suffers a toe injury in the preseason, effectively ending his fifth NFL campaign before it begins.

April 9, 2022

Unsigned for more than a month after his Steelers contract expires, Dobbs lands a one-year contract with the Browns, then proceeds to win a backup job behind Cleveland’s newly acquired starter Deshaun Watson.

Nov. 28, 2022

Watson is reinstated from an 11-game suspension, and the Browns release Dobbs, who had yet to take a snap with the team.

Dec. 5, 2022

Dobbs is signed to the Lions’ practice squad as emergency insurance behind Jared Goff and Nate Sudfeld.

Dec. 21, 2022

Just over two weeks after relocating to Detroit, Dobbs is claimed off the Lions’ practice squad by the Titans, who need QB depth after starter Ryan Tannehill suffers an ankle injury.

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Dec. 29, 2022

Eight days after joining Tennessee, Dobbs is named the Titans’ starting QB over both an injured Tannehill and struggling rookie backup Malik Willis, nearly guiding the team to a playoff-clinching victory in a second straight start the following week.

March 23, 2023

Dobbs rejoins the Browns on a one-year contract, competing for Cleveland’s No. 2 QB job behind Watson.

Aug. 24, 2023

Two weeks before the start of the regular season, the Browns trade Dobbs to the Cardinals along with a seventh-round draft pick in exchange for a fifth-rounder. With Arizona’s regular starter, Kyler Murray, still recovering from a torn ACL, Dobbs instantly joins a competition for the Cardinals’ Week 1 starting job.

Sept. 10, 2023

The Cardinals release incumbent backup Colt McCoy and declare Dobbs the starting QB to open their 2023 season. Two weeks later, he guides an upset of the 2-0 Cowboys, and it isn’t until Oct. 8 that he throws his first interception of the year.

Oct. 31, 2023

After a career-high eight straight starts for the Cardinals, Dobbs is traded to the Vikings along with a seventh-round pick in exchange for a sixth-rounder. Minnesota immediately slots him in as the No. 2 QB behind Hall, who is preparing to make his first career start in place of longtime starter Cousins, who recently suffered a season-ending Achilles injury.

Nov. 5, 2023

Five days after arriving in Minnesota, Dobbs takes over for Hall after the latter suffers a concussion in the first quarter of his first start. He proceeds to toss two TD passes and runs for another score while leading the Vikings in rushing (66 yards), helping them rally late to upset the Falcons to improve to 5-4 on the season.

Nov. 12, 2023

Awarded a game ball for his poised Vikings debut, Dobbs makes his first start for Minnesota against the Saints and dazzles with a pair of early touchdowns — one rushing, one throwing — to guide a 24-3 lead over the Saints at halftime of Week 10 and an eventual 27-19 victory.

Nov. 19, 2023

The Vikings built a 17-9 edge at the Denver Broncos in Week 11 as well as a 20-15 advantage with 3:17 to go, but Minnesota lost 21-20 after surrendering the Broncos’ only touchdown of the night with 1:03 left to play. Dobbs accounted for three of the Vikings’ four turnovers with an interception and two fumbles lost. 

Nov. 27, 2023

Minnesota lost a gut-wrenching “Monday Night Football” game 12-10 against the struggling Chicago Bears. Dobbs threw a career-high four interceptions as well as the game’s only touchdown, a 17-yard scoring strike to tight end T.J. Hockenson.

Dec. 10, 2023

Following their bye week, Dobbs and the Vikings limped to a 3-0 victory at the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 14, a game that was scoreless until Minnesota kicker Greg Joseph drained a 36-yard field goal with 1:57 left. 

Dec. 14, 2023

News broke that Dobbs is being dropped multiple spots down the depth chart to the emergency third quarterback role.