Browns Traded Breakout QB Josh Dobbs Before Deshaun Watson’s Injury-Plagued Season

Cleveland is likely regretting this move with Watson deemed out for the season.

Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson is out for the season after breaking a bone in his shoulder in Sunday’s win over the Ravens. P.J. Walker is expected to become Cleveland’s starter for the rest of the season.

Although Walker has done his best when filling in for Watson when he was previously injured this season, his performance has paled in comparison to breakout quarterback Josh Dobbs, who was with the Browns in camp and contending to become Watson’s backup.

Dobbs was deemed expendable and was traded to the Cardinals before the start of the regular season. Dobbs started eight games for Arizona while franchise quarterback Kyler Murray continued his recovery from a torn ACL suffered last season. Dobbs completed 62.8% of his throws for 1,569 yards and eight touchdowns to five interceptions.

Quarterback Josh Dobbs, now impressing with the Minnesota Vikings, was a Cleveland Browns backup to Deshaun Watson in training camp :: Phil Masturzo/USA TODAY Network

Once Murray was set to return, the Cardinals traded Dobbs to the Vikings, where he has now started two games in place of Kirk Cousins, who tore his Achilles. Dobbs has completed 67.2% of his passes in two games for Minnesota for 426 yards and two touchdowns to zero interceptions.

It’s safe to assume that Dobbs’s breakout season for two different teams, which is undoubtedly the best 10 game stretch of his career, would be welcomed in Cleveland right about now.

Walker has completed just 49.0% of his passes in five games this season for 618 yards and one touchdown to five interceptions.

Cleveland is 6–3 and in the thick of the playoff hunt in the AFC, but whether or not the Browns ultimately make the playoffs now rests on the shoulders of Walker, while Dobbs continues his strong season in Minnesota.

Here are some of the best social media reactions to Cleveland’s quarterback situation with Watson out for the season and Dobbs now playing elsewhere.

Who would’ve thought how important this would be…

Josh Dobbs was the #Browns backup to start training camp.

Cleveland then traded him to Arizona, the Cardinals have since traded him to Minnesota, and Dobbs is now thriving as a starter with the Vikings. https://t.co/3Hi7P5haV1 pic.twitter.com/j6oRV0M8rl

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 15, 2023

Good for Dobbs 📈📈 https://t.co/kshXI1WHal

— LSharkitan (@likeclarkkent) November 15, 2023

Ok we get it add more insult to injury https://t.co/O7dZhQwcOw

— wilsen caraballo (@Wilsen_TheMan) November 15, 2023

And The Factory of Sadness known as cleveland churns out another moment… https://t.co/YeDzIW00Cp

— Mark (@MarkMizzouSteel) November 15, 2023

You don’t know what you have till it’s gone https://t.co/qXdIgXL705

— LowkeyMe🤷🏿‍♂️ (@AkinwandeOlay10) November 15, 2023