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Josh Dobbs is anticipated to start for the Tennessee Titans against the Dallas Cowboys on Thursday night.
The Titans chose to start Dobbs over quarterback Malik Willis, who they selected in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft, when they signed Dobbs off the practice squad of the Detroit Lions last week.
The Titans’ regular starting quarterback, Ryan Tannehill, underwent ankle surgery last week and will be out for the remainder of the regular season and, if Tennessee advances, most certainly the postseason as well.
In any of his three starts in place of the injured Tannehill, Willis has failed to complete a touchdown pass or accrue more than 100 passing yards. Last week against the Houston Texans, he carried for 123 yards and scored his first running touchdown. In three starts, the Titans are 1-2.
Pro Bowl defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons and Pro Bowl running back Derrick Henry have both been ruled out by the Titans in addition to Tannehill, and Henry is questionable to play.
Starting Josh Dobbs is a last-ditch effort for the Titans, who don’t need to triumph on Thursday night in order to play the Jacksonville Jaguars in a win-and-in game the following week. Todd Downing, the offensive coordinator for the Titans, is doing all in his power to get Dobbs ready.
Downing said of the young kid, “He’s incredibly bright and he’s working really hard to catch everything up. The vocabulary is rather recognizable and carried over from his time in Cleveland. I was in Minnesota with (Browns coach Kevin) Stefanski so I can attempt to help him a little bit with his “Spanish to English” translation. I believe the volume will be decided by what we can find out about his comfort level.
Six NFL games have seen Dobbs play, all of them with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has one interception and 45 yards of total passing. He ran for 31 yards as well.
On “Thursday Night Football” on Amazon Prime Video, the Titans play the Cowboys.
»Thursday Night Football: Titans bench Malik Willis for Josh Dobbs«