Barring an injury to Ben Roethlisberger, Joshua Dobbs will likely spend the remainder of his rookie season in the NFL on the bench.
But next season, and going forward after that, the former Alpharetta High School quarterback could replace Roethlisberger under center, according to a prediction from ESPN.
In an article where the worldwide leader predicted every NFL team's starting quarterback for the 2020 season, ESPN's magic crystal ball says Dobbs will be the Pittsburgh Steelers' starter, replacing Roethlisberger.
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ESPN writes: “In 2018, Roethlisberger finally follows through on that retirement threat. Dobbs, a former student of rocket science at Tennessee who spent two years backing up Big Ben, grabs the controls in 2019. Headline writers fire up their rocket puns.”
Roethlisberger, 35, has won two Super Bowls since taking over the Steelers' offense in 2004. But he hinted at retirement this past offseason, and many believe 2017 could be his last NFL season.
Dobbs, 22, is an Alpharetta native who played college football at the University of Tennessee. The Steelers spent a fourth round pick on the 6-foot-3 quarterback in the 2017 NFL Draft. Dobbs led the SEC in passing touchdowns as a senior, and rushed for 32 scores over his career in Knoxville.
He hasn't seen action in a regular season NFL game so far this year, but in the preseason Dobbs completed 59 percent of his passes for 406 yards and two touchdowns over four games. He also rushed for 34 yards and a score.
On the Steelers’ quarterback depth chart, Dobbs is listed third behind Roethlisberger and Landry Jones. So, to eventually take that starting job when Big Ben calls it quits, he’ll have to beat out Jones, a four-year veteran.
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