Josh Dobbs Expected to Start Week 1 for Cardinals, per Report

Josh Dobbs is reportedly expected to start in Arizona’s season opener against the Commanders.

The Cardinals are reportedly expected to have Josh Dobbs as their starting quarterback for their season opener against the Commanders, according to Ian Rapoport.

First-year head coach Jonathan Gannon had listed Dobbs “or” rookie Clayton Tune as Arizona’s QB1 on the team’s depth chart ahead of their Week 1 clash, indicating he wanted to maintain a level of competitive advantage by not naming a starter.

Gannon refused to tell reporters about the team’s plan at quarterback as early as Wednesday morning. However Rapoport indicates that a decision has been made, despite the coach playing his cards close to his chest.

Kyler Murray is still on the mend following the ACL surgery he underwent in January, and the team cut Colt McCoy in August, leaving Dobbs and Tune as the only quarterbacks on the roster. Murray is starting the season on the PUP list, meaning he won’t be available for at least the first four weeks of the year.

Rapoport indicated that the quarterback situation in Arizona will be evaluated on a week-to-week basis. 

Cardinals quarterbacks Joshua Dobbs and Clayton Tune throw passes during a practice as Kyler Murray looks on :: Rob Schumacher/The Republic/USA TODAY NETWORK

Dobbs has started two games across his three-year career, with both starts coming last year for the Titans. He threw for 411 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions last season in Tennessee, and had featured as a backup for the Steelers in 2018 and ’20, making six total appearances. 

Tune was a fifth-round pick out of Houston in this year’s draft. He threw 40 touchdowns and 10 interceptions during his final season with the Cougars. Tune will reportedly start his career as the Cardinals’ No. 2 quarterback, though he could be in the mix to start at some point during Murray’s absence.