Cam Heyward heaps praise on former Steelers teammate Josh Dobbs
Cam Heyward is raving about an old teammate. That’s Josh Dobbs, the one-time Steelers draft pick who now quarterbacks the Vikings.
Dobbs definitely is having an extended moment this season with multiple changes of addresses. He’s already on his third team since late August and has started for both the Cardinals and Vikings this season. He got to the NFL in 2017, when the Steelers selected the former Tennessee star in the fourth round of the draft.
Heyward is such a good friend that he referred to Dobbs by his full name during a recent Not Just Football podcast.
“Rob Josh Dobbs is killing it,” said Heyward, the long-time Steelers defensive lineman. “He was responsible for like five touchdowns this past week. And as good as a player he is on the field, he’s a better player off of it. He needs opportunity. And when guys are ready for those opportunities … I saw the way Josh would prepare, going to meetings, how he would talk (and) be open and just really take advantage of just scout team reps.
The Steelers star then added some deeper meaning. “There’s a lost art of being ready for your moment, and being ready for your moments as you practice. You’ve done things right on and off the field. Josh would take advantage of that. He will prepare his tail off and he would try to dice up the defense when he got a chance to. And now we’re seeing that he’s having a lot more success.”
Dobbs has played two stints with the Steelers
Dobbs’ first stint with the Steelers ended early in the 2019 season. That’s when the Steelers traded him to the Jaguars after Mike Tomlin decided on Mason Rudolph as the backup QB. But the Steelers signed him again a year later. Then he started his odyssey across the NFL. He spent time in Cleveland, twice. He ended up starting games for the Titans late last season, but that was only after a brief stay in Detroit.
He ended up back in Cleveland for training camp. But the Browns traded him to the Cardinals. They were looking for a temporary starter as Kyler Murray finished his recovery from knee surgery. After starting eight games in Arizona, the Cards flipped Dobbs to the Vikings. Minnesota was in desperate need of a quarterback after Kirk Cousins tore his Achilles.
Dobbs officially became a Viking on Halloween. And with only a few days time, he came off the bench and led the Vikings to a win over the Falcons. He’s now 2-0 thanks to a win over the Saints.
With the Steelers settled on Kenny Pickett, it’s doubtful Dobbs will end up back in Pittsburgh. After all, he’s a starter now, not a forever backup. But maybe the Steelers helped propel him to the success he’s enjoying now.