Dobbs signs 1-year deal with Browns to be Watson’s backup
The search for Deshaun Watson’s backup has led the Browns back to a familiar face.
A league source confirmed to the Beacon Journal that Josh Dobbs is being signed to a one-year, $2 million deal by the Browns. Dobbs’ agent, Mike McCartney, initially tweeted out the news of the former Browns backup quarterback’s return to Cleveland.
Dobbs is coming into a role with which he’s very familiar after having spent time with the Browns last season, which is why he was always viewed as a likely option to be signed this offseason. He originally signed with Cleveland as the No. 3 quarterback last April behind Watson and Jacoby Brissett, but rose to be Brissett’s backup for the 11 games Watson was suspended by the league.
Dobbs did an impressive job over the Browns’ three preseason games last year with Watson only playing in the first one in Jacksonville and Brissett only playing in the third one against the Chicago Bears. He was 35-of-53 passing for 335 yards with a touchdowns in the three games, leading the Browns on five touchdown and four field-goal drives.
When Watson returned to the active roster on Nov. 28, Dobbs was put on waivers by the team. The Detroit Lions initially signed him to their practice squad on Dec. 5, and elevated him to the active roster on Dec. 17, but he did not play in a game.
The Tennessee Titans signed Dobbs on Dec. 21. He started the Titans’ final two games of the season against the Dallas Cowboys and the Jacksonville Jaguars as they pushed for an AFC South championship.
Dobbs completed 40 of 68 passes for 411 yards in those two starts. He threw two touchdowns and two interceptions, while also having a critical fumble against the Jaguars that Josh Allen returned to give Jacksonville a 20-16 lead with 2:51 remaining in the season finale.
The former fourth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2017 draft out of the University of Tennessee has appeared in eight career games. He appeared in five games in 2018 for the Steelers, while also making an appearance in the 2020 regular-season finale for Pittsburgh against the Browns.
Dobbs has completed 50 of 85 passes for 458 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in his career.
Dobbs moves in front of Kellen Mond in the Browns’ quarterback room. Mond was picked up off waivers from the Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 31 and spent last season as the No. 3 quarterback throughout the season.