Browns Sign Former Steelers QB Josh Dobbs

Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Josh Dobbs is back in the AFC North, as he has agreed to a one-year contract with the Cleveland Browns, according to his agent. The contract is worth $2 million, according to NFL Network.

Dobbs had a whirlwind 2022 season, his first following his second stint with the Steelers. He originally signed with the Browns last April with the plan that he would back up Jacoby Brissett while Deshaun Watson was suspended.

He performed that role, but did not appear in a game. Dobbs was waived on Nov. 28 when Watson returned from his suspension. Dobbs then signed with the Detroit Lions practice squad and was there for three weeks, before being singed by the Tennessee Titans.

In Nashville, where starter Ryan Tannehill was out with a season-ending injury, Dobbs supplanted rookie Malik Willis and made two starts, the first of his five-year NFL career. In two games, Dobbs completed 40 of 68 passes for 411 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

Related: Former Steelers QB Josh Dobbs to Make First NFL Start with Titans on TNF

In his return to Cleveland, Dobbs will battle to be Watson’s backup this season. The only other passer on the Browns roster is Kellen Mond, who was claimed on waivers from Minnesota late last season. A 2021 third-round pick, Mond has one career appearance and has thrown three NFL passes, so Dobbs is currently the only experienced option behind Watson.

The Steelers apparently chose not to pursue Dobbs, who was the team’s fourth-round pick out of Tennessee in the 2017 NFL Draft. Dobbs spent five years with the Steelers over two stints from 2017-19 and 2020-21. He worked with current Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada in both 2020 and 2021.

The Steelers have just two quarterbacks under contract for 2023, incumbent starter Kenny Pickett and backup Mitch Trubisky. The Steelers have traditionally kept three quarterbacks on their active roster and gone to training camp with four.