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Kevin Seifert, ESPN Staff Writer
MINNEAPOLIS — Joshua Dobbs found himself in a surreal moment last week after his stellar debut with the Vikings. As he entered the team hotel’s elevator, he was pleasantly surprised when dozens of former players recognized him, expressed their admiration for his impact on the team, and enthusiastically discussed the remaining season. “Just feeling that energy,” he said, “and feeling that recognition from guys that have played a lot more snaps than I have and had illustrious careers, and just to see that excitement, meant a lot to me. It was a cool moment just to take it all in.”
Dobbs continued his impressive performance on Sunday, accounting for 312 offensive yards and two touchdowns in the Vikings’ 27-19 victory over the Saints. In doing so, he achieved a historic milestone as the first player in NFL history to reach 400 passing yards, 100 rushing yards, and no interceptions in his first two games with a team, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
He emerged as the third quarterback to start for the Vikings in as many weeks following Kirk Cousins’ season-ending Achilles tear in Week 8 and Jaren Hall’s concussion in Week 9. Despite his recent acquisition as an emergency backup for Hall from the Cardinals, Dobbs proved his talent by accounting for 224 offensive yards and three touchdowns against the Falcons without a single practice rep with the team.
Before Sunday’s game, Dobbs had the opportunity to learn the Vikings’ offense and game plan for the Saints, which included more passing than anticipated. His exceptional performance of 268 yards and a 28-yard touchdown strike to tight end T.J. Hockenson contributed to the Vikings’ 24-3 halftime lead. He also rushed for 44 yards, showcasing his agility and strategic brilliance on the field.
Coach Kevin O’Connell praised Dobbs for his mobility and commendable performance: “Josh in two starts has shown us what mobility, in addition to what we do offensively, can do for us.” He also emphasized Dobbs’ work ethic and his commitment to learning and improving with each game.
Indeed, Dobbs devoted himself to studying the game plan, even jokingly remarking that he “isn’t paid by the hour” as he spent countless hours at the facility. Turning serious, Dobbs expressed his determination to maintain his performance and strives for continual improvement: “Whatever happened, you have to put that aside and go on to the next one. You show up on Sunday, you don’t play well? No one cares what you did last week in Atlanta. They care about what you did this week in Minnesota.”
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