Nike must get some Joshua Dobbs jerseys to the Minnesota Vikings group retailer as quick as doable. I’d even make a purchase order with the best way that he has performed within the first season of his lengthy NFL profession through which teaching staffs have lastly, deliberately began him at quarterback. He has spent most of this season saving the late RedZone window by making the Arizona Cardinals entertaining in losses. He was rewarded for making an attempt to maintain that sinking ship afloat with a commerce to the Vikings on deadline day, main them to a game-winning landing drive on Sunday throughout their Week 9 victory towards the Atlanta Falcons. Did we point out he’d solely been on the town lower than per week?

Dobbs entered the sport within the fourth quarter after rookie starter Jaren Corridor was compelled to go away the sport and go into concussion protocol. Kirk Cousins suffered a season-ending Achilles damage final week, and veteran backup Nick Mullens was in his fourth week on injured reserve due to his again. After solely a handful of observe days, Dobbs accounted for extra touchdowns in lower than 4 full quarters of motion than he did in any begin for the Cardinals in a 31-28 victory.

He accomplished 66.7 p.c of his passes for 158 yards and two scores. Dobbs additionally ran in a landing within the third quarter that tied the sport at 21-all. He rushed for 66 essential yards on the day, together with a gutsy 22-yard scramble on 4th and seven to maintain the Vikings’ last drive alive. The rating that gave the Vikings the lead for good was a Dobbs landing move on third and 4.

Going into this season, Dobbs was a backup journeyman who had solely began in two video games since being drafted by the Steelers in 2017. These had been the final two video games of the 2022 season for the Tennessee Titans. Ryan Tannehill was harm — and had already been benched — and after being on the roster for per week and a half they determined to start out Dobbs over then-rookie Malik Willis.

Kyler Murray tore an ACL late final season and the Cardinals traded for Dobbs two weeks previous to the beginning of the 2023 common season. Whereas the Cardinals solely gained a single recreation via eight weeks, they performed onerous and saved a lot of these video games shut sufficient to be watchable, which is all the time appreciated within the late-afternoon Sunday window. A 27-0 Week 9 loss to the Cleveland Browns with out Dobbs was by far the Cardinals’ worst lack of the season. Their sole win was Week 3 towards the Dallas Cowboys, and afterwards Dobbs found that his jersey–that of the QB that had led them to victory–was not but within the group retailer. The Playing cards then moved swiftly to rectify the issue.

Dobbs performed effectively, albeit not spectacularly this season. Going into Week 9, he averaged solely 5.9 yards per try with a 46.6 QBR. Nevertheless, mixed along with his 258 yards on the bottom and three touchdowns, he performed effectively sufficient for the Cardinals entrance workplace to obtain one of the best of each worlds. The group performed aggressive soccer, whereas nonetheless dropping sufficient video games to stay within the race for the No. 1 general decide within the 2024 NFL Draft.

His Week 9 efficiency towards the Falcons was additionally not with out blemish. He fumbled thrice — dropping two of them — and was additionally dropped for a security on his first drive. Nonetheless, the rocket scientist (he has a level in aerospace engineering and has interned at NASA in offseasons) who doubles as an NFL quarterback was capable of preserve his head all through the early chaos. Ultimately, the day ended with him touchdown the Vikings’ shuttle into the Falcons finish zone for a win, and a 5-4 file.

The Vikings may wish to place an A.S.A.P. order of No. 15 jerseys. They made the transfer to aim to cling to their slim playoff hopes, and after one week they’ve managed to carry their floor thanks largely to a masterful last drive by Dobbs.