QB Joshua Dobbs reveals why he was shocked when Cardnials traded him to Vikings
Journeyman quarterback Joshua Dobbs learned he can't always take an NFL franchise for its word.
Before the trade deadline, the Arizona Cardinals dealt the 28-year-old to the Minnesota Vikings even though they told Dobbs they weren't planning to trade him.
"I woke up Tuesday morning with a text from my agent saying, 'You could be traded because the trade deadline is today," Dobbs recently said on the "Torchbearers" podcast. "And listen to this — when I had my meeting with [head coach Jonathan Gannon], he looked at me in the face, and he said, 'You're not getting traded. You're not being released,. You're going to be here in Arizona.'"
It was a bit surprising when the Cardinals (1-8) moved on from Dobbs and benched him in favor of rookie Clayton Tune, but a little less so after Arizona activated two-time Pro Bowler Kyler Murray, who will make his first start Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons.
Dobbs, meanwhile, stepped in for Jaren Hall after the Kirk Cousins' backup suffered a concussion in Week 9 and led Minnesota to a 31-28 victory over Atlanta despite not knowing his teammates' names or the playbook.
On Monday, Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell confirmed Dobbs will start Sunday against the New Orleans Saints.
"I thought what he did was remarkable," O'Connell said, per ESPN, "but there's a lot of things we'll coach him through and get him more comfortable in what we do."
The trade shocked Dobbs, but it could work out for him. He's a solid backup who can help the team stay in the playoff hunt despite Cousins' season-ending Achilles tear. The New York Times simulator notes Minnesota (5-4) has a 61 percent chance to make the postseason.
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