Joshua Dobbs News

Dobbs drew his second consecutive start, this time with the AFC South title on the line. He performed admirably for much of the game, highlighted by a 21-yard dart to Chigoziem Okonkwo for a touchdown midway through the second quarter. However, Dobbs made a vital mistake with only three minutes remaining in the matchup when he fumbled while being sacked, which the Jacksonville defense returned for the game-winning touchdown. Dobbs spent the majority of the season as the backup quarterback in Cleveland, and he'll likely stick in a similar role in 2023.

With Ryan Tannehill (ankle) sidelined, Malik Willis drew the start in Week 16, but after a disappointing loss to Houston, Tennessee opted to give Dobbs a chance in Week 17. While the Titans still lost to Dallas, Vrabel said he liked Dobbs' decision making during the contest and will give the veteran backup another opportunity during Sunday's AFC South title match against Jacksonville. Dobbs completed 20 of 39 passes for 232 yards, a touchdown and an interception during the Week 17 loss to Dallas. He also rushed three times for 12 yards.

Dobbs' 232 passing yards in Thursday's loss to the Cowboys were just two fewer than Willis has mustered in his first three NFL starts combined. Willis has more long-term upside, but in a win-and-in scenario against the AFC South rival Jaguars, Dobbs is likely the front-runner to get the starting nod. "That's the only thing that matters, is winning one game," Vrabel said. "Getting healthy, getting recovered and then winning one game, and finding out who is going to do that."

Dobbs barely completed half his pass attempts and his two turnovers were a blemish, but given the brief amount of time he had to prepare and his opponent, the veteran signal-caller acquitted himself reasonably well. The 2017 fourth-round pick of the Steelers connected with Robert Woods for his one touchdown from seven yards out late in the third quarter, and he completed passes to nine different players overall. Dobbs is slated to return to the No. 2 role for a Week 18 road matchup against the Jaguars a week from Sunday that will decide the AFC South title, unless head coach Mike Vrabel feels Thursday's performance made enough of a case for Dobbs to usurp the unsteady Malik Willis for the start in that game.

Thursday's contest doesn't have playoff implications for the Titans -- who will face the Jaguars in Week 18 with the AFC South title on the line - so the team is in line give Dobbs an opportunity to make his first career NFL regular season start in a game in which multiple key players are being held out. With that in mind, Dobbs is an option for those who had been planning to use Malik Willis (Tennessee's Week 16 starter in place of Ryan Tannehill, who was placed on IR on Thursday) in fantasy lineups, or who are otherwise scrambling for a Week 17 signal-caller in QB-heavy formats. With a solid showing versus Dallas, Dobbs could potentially find himself in the starting mix a week from Sunday against Jacksonville.

The Tennessee Titans are expected to start quarterback Josh Dobbs on Thursday night against the Dallas Cowboys, according to Justin Melo of The Draft Network. The Titans have an AFC South showdown with the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 18 that will determine the division winner and their playoff hopes, so they are expected to rest multiple starters on Thursday night, including Malik Willis and Derrick Henry. Dobbs will make his first NFL start after the Titans signed him off the Detroit Lions practice squad eight days ago. He was drafted in the fourth round by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017 and has only thrown 17 passes in six relief appearances. Per FanDuel Sportsbook, the Titans are 13.5-point underdogs and they have a 13.5-point implied total on Thursday night.