The Lions are bringing back Joshua Dobbs on a one-year deal worth $1.425 million, according to Mike Garafolo, with $475,000 guaranteed. The move comes after veteran quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was placed on the retired list earlier today.
Dobbs, now 31, has been around the league plenty since the Steelers made him a fourth-round pick in 2017. He was in the third year of his rookie deal when Pittsburgh sent him to Jacksonville for a fifth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.
That stop in Jacksonville didn’t last long. The Jaguars waived Dobbs in September of 2020, and the Steelers claimed him back shortly after before re-signing him to a one-year deal in 2021. He later landed with Cleveland, but the Browns moved on to create room for Deshaun Watson.
Detroit had Dobbs in the building once already, signing him to the practice squad before he spent only a couple of weeks there and then moved on to the Titans’ active roster.
His next run with the Browns ended with another trade, this time sending Dobbs and a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Cardinals for a 2024 fifth-round pick. Arizona then flipped him to the 49ers along with a 2024 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2024 sixth-round pick.
Dobbs eventually reached New England on a two-year, $8 million deal before the 2025 season, but the Patriots let him go in March. In 2025, he played in four games for New England and completed seven of 10 passes for 65 yards.
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Steelers Face A Real QB Decision As Trade Buzz Builds
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Detroits search for a veteran backup has added another layer, and it is the kind of development that can turn a roster conversation into a real trade discussion. McCarthy has been publicly complimentary of Mason Rudolph, which naturally puts the spotlight on how the Steelers value him versus Will Howard, and whether Pittsburgh sees one of them as more expendable if a deal starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Will Howard Finally Gets His Chance In A Crucial Steelers Debut
Will Howard is finally set to see the field again Thursday, a long-awaited step for the Steelers quarterback after a year spent waiting for a real game to return. The second-year passer has not played since his Ohio State days, and this preseason opener will give Pittsburgh its first live look at a young quarterback whose development was delayed by injury but not derailed.
Howard called the chance to get back into game action exciting, and he knows the preseason matters for more than just rust removal. For a player trying to re-establish himself and make the most of limited reps, every snap carries extra weight, especially with the Steelers still sorting out what they have behind center. [Read more 🡒]