Joshua Dobbs didn’t have much time to learn the Minnesota Vikings’ playbook. He had, after all, only spent four days with the team before its Week 9 showdown with the Atlanta Falcons.
That wasn’t supposed to be a problem. The journeyman backup had started eight games with an Arizona Cardinals team with little to play for in 2023, dutifully losing the games that could push the franchise closer to next spring’s top overall draft pick. He was acquired in the wake of Kirk Cousins’ torn Achilles to serve as a veteran mentor to rookie Jaren Hall, who was promoted to starter in Cousins’ absence.
But then Hall was injured on the opening drive of Sunday’s game. Dobbs entered and, well, looked exactly like a guy who had less than a week to learn his new team’s playbook.
🙏 @CalaisCampbell 🙏
📺 FOX | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/hTt0QNEk2l
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 5, 2023
Woof. That safety came after missing an open T.J. Hockenson on second down, leading to a long dropback, too much time in the pocket and a glaring lack of awareness at the 6-foot-8 Calais Campbell crashing through his periphery for two Falcons points.
Well maybe the replay will show an alternate angle that makes things a bit less embarrassing and awwwww crap, nope it’s worse.
Josh Dobbs was forced to make his Vikings debut due to a Jaren Hall concussion and got hit with a DDT for a safety on his first series pic.twitter.com/Xxaof72u1t
— CJ Fogler account may or may not be notable (@cjzero) November 5, 2023
OK, rough start, but surely his next drive will be better.
Forced Fumble @A7chronic !!
Recovery @_zocarter !!
📺 FOX | NFL+ pic.twitter.com/A6s1OD5rk1
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) November 5, 2023
(long exhale, eyes roll so hard into back of skull they lose focus)
Needless to say, fans and analysts were a heady mix of amused and intrigued by Dobbs’ latest act of emergency, no-lead-time quarterbacking.
joshua dobbs coming in as vikings quarterback pic.twitter.com/qvBbkyTaCD
— Tej Seth (@tejfbanalytics) November 5, 2023
Josh Dobbs always finds himself inserted into games in the same manner that a chef on Chopped has to start cooking seconds after opening the basket
— Patrick Claybon (@PatrickClaybon) November 5, 2023
That's pretty much what you would expect from QB4 after a couple days with his new team. Josh Dobbs missed T.J. Hockenson on second down and was sacked for a safety on third down.
Falcons 5, Vikings 3. 14:04 Q2.
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) November 5, 2023
*Josh Dobbs drops back in his own endzone* pic.twitter.com/4k0ss9kaQA
— betr (@betr) November 5, 2023
Might get Josh Dobbs action with like three days of practice
— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@PFF_Brad) November 5, 2023
Jaren Hall has been ruled out with a concussion. Man. Josh Dobbs is next up.
QB1: Kirk Cousins (IR)
QB2: Nick Mullens (IR)
QB3: Jaren Hall (concussion)
QB4: Josh Dobbs (acquired this week)— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) November 5, 2023
It'll be Joshua Dobbs – acquired on Tuesday – for the rest of the game.
The Vikings have no other healthy QB available beyond Dobbs. https://t.co/QTqSuXLkZG
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) November 5, 2023
josh dobbs is going to be drawing routes on the back of the football like its backyard football just so that he can get on the same page as the receivers,
— Tej Seth (@tejfbanalytics) November 5, 2023
Joshua Dobbs time from joining a new team to playing in a game:#Titans: 8 days#Cardinals: 17 days#Vikings: 5 days
Per @NFLResearch, the only QB since 1950 to start for 3 different teams in one calendar year is Baker Mayfield, who did it twice. Dobbs now in line to join him.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 5, 2023
– Kirk Cousins balling
– Cousins suffers torn Achilles
– Jaren Hall having a promising drive in his first start
– Hall ruled out of the game due to a concussion
– Josh Dobbs thrown to the wolves
– Dobbs immediately eaten alive for a safetyThere is no God.
— Schlasser (@UrinatingTree) November 5, 2023
Vikings throwing Josh Dobbs into the game knowing none of the playbook pic.twitter.com/DoRBC6oJXd
— Bill (@BuyHimOutBoys) November 5, 2023
Arizona Cardinals: Two weeks is plenty of time for Joshua Dobbs to get prepped for action.
Minnesota Vikings: Hold my beer.
— Alex Clancy (@ClancysCorner) November 5, 2023
Man, Joshua Dobbs legit had to be a rocket scientist. Dude has had to learn 5 different play books in less than a year. Straight into the game in a backed up situation. How much tougher could it be?
— Ryan Clark (@Realrclark25) November 5, 2023
we're josh freemaning again, just a different josh, and this time we didn't have a choice. Dobbs is QB4 https://t.co/xyqnCYi2zh
— Luke Braun (@LukeBraunNFL) November 5, 2023
Josh Dobbs quantum leaping into QB jobs is the only consistent part of this season https://t.co/6G2PepuTvm
— Danny Heifetz (@Danny_Heifetz) November 5, 2023
