Current:Home > MarketsVikings QB Joshua Dobbs didn't know most of his teammates' names. He led them to a win. -Pinnacle Profit Strategies
Vikings QB Joshua Dobbs didn't know most of his teammates' names. He led them to a win.
Charles H. Sloan View
Date:2025-04-08 18:45:07
Who needs practice − or to know who you are playing with − when you're Joshua Dobbs?
Just five days after he was traded from the Arizona Cardinals to the Minnesota Vikings, the quarterback was thrust into his new team's road game against the Atlanta Falcons after rookie starter Jaren Hall was injured on the team's second possession of the day.
Even without taking a single snap with the offense in the practice leading up to Sunday, Dobbs delivered an incredible come-from-behind performance by completing 20 of 30 passes for 158 yards and two touchdown passes, including the game-winning scoring throw to Brandon Powell with 22 seconds left to lift Minnesota into a 31-28 win. The result moved the Vikings to 5-4 on the season for their fourth-straight victory.
Dobbs was also the leading rusher on the day, with seven carries for 66 yards and a touchdown run, with several runs extending drives and keeping hopes of a win alive.
'He's smart as hell'
Powell and fellow Vikings receiver Jordan Addison both confirmed to reporters postgame that Dobbs didn't throw any passes during practice.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
"He's smart as hell. To be able to come in here and learn that offense that fast and go out there and call them plays, he's smart. That's a smart dude," Powell said. "He was paying attention. Came in the game, never practicing, and we won the game.
"It's hard to go out there and execute when you don't get the reps, but he did it."
Addison added that everyone in the offensive huddle was letting Dobbs know what they'd be doing on each play, and confirming what routes receivers would run. Regardless, Dobbs was at the center of a big celebration with teammates in the locker room after the win.
Dobbs plans on learning teammates' names
Dobbs, who was the Cardinals' starter for eight games after being traded by the Cleveland Browns just before the start of the regular season, described the whirlwind of the week like someone taking a Spanish class for an entire year and then being told they need to take a test in French. He said coaches asked him how comfortable he felt with the playbook in case he needed to play, to which he said, "anything on this call sheet that we installed this week, I got it. I can run it. I got it." He even admitted that going into Sunday, he didn't know the majority of his teammates' full names.
"If we had to pull up a roster of names, I'll be a bad teammate today," Dobbs said.
But the fourth-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft has his next thing to learn, as Minnesota will prepare to face the New Orleans Saints in Week 10.
"Names, that's for this week. That's an assignment for this week," Dobbs said.
veryGood! (5413)
Related
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Tom Smothers, one half of TV comedy legends the Smothers Brothers, dies at 86
- Editing Reality (2023)
- Blue Jackets' Zach Werenski leaves game after getting tangled up with Devils' Ondrej Palat
- Nevada attorney general revives 2020 fake electors case
- Penguins' Kris Letang set NHL defenseman record during rout of Islanders
- Pope Francis blasts the weapons industry, appeals for peace in Christmas message
- In its 75th year, the AP Top 25 men’s basketball poll is still driving discussion across the sport
- Travis Hunter, the 2
- High surf warnings issued for most of West Coast and parts of Hawaii; dangerous waves expected
Ranking
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Myopia affects 4 in 10 people and may soon affect 5 in 10. Here's what it is and how to treat it.
- Great 2023 movies you may have missed
- Watch this gift-giving puppy shake with excitement when the postal worker arrives
- Israel lets Palestinians go back to northern Gaza for first time in over a year as cease
- Amazon Prime Video will start showing ads in January. Will you have to pay more?
- Mega Millions now at $73 million ahead of Tuesday drawing; See winning numbers
- Man City inspired by world champion badge to rally for 3-1 win at Everton. Rare home win for Chelsea
Recommendation
South Korea's acting president moves to reassure allies, calm markets after Yoon impeachment
2 models of Apple Watch can go on sale again, for now, after court lifts halt over a patent dispute
Jury deadlocks in trial of Alabama man accused of 1988 killing of 11-year-old Massachusetts girl
Can you use restaurant gift cards on DoorDash or Uber Eats? How to use your gift cards wisely
Juan Soto praise of Mets' future a tough sight for Yankees, but World Series goal remains
Mbongeni Ngema, South African playwright and creator of 'Sarafina!,' has died at 68
Opposition candidate in Congo alleges police fired bullets as protesters seek re-do of election
The $7,500 tax credit for electric cars will see big changes in 2024. What to know