GLENDALE, Ariz. — Joshua Dobbs served primarily as a backup during the 2024 season, making minimal appearances in one game. With the usual starter Brock Purdy sidelined, Dobbs was called upon by the San Francisco 49ers for their last matchup against the Arizona Cardinals, turning it effectively into a showcase for the following season.
In what was a mixed performance, Dobbs threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns while suffering from three turnovers, leading to the 49ers’ defeat, 47-24, against the Cardinals. “It felt great to get out there,” Dobbs commented after the game, noting, “We fought hard for three quarters. Unfortunately, the turnovers really hurt us — that was the key factor in the outcome.” He completed 29 of his 43 attempts on the day.
Dobbs’s journey through 2023 was quite eventful, including a period spent in Arizona, before he secured a backup position in San Francisco (6-11) this year. He was the third quarterback behind Purdy and Brandon Allen and had only managed to attempt four passes in a previous game against Detroit, which ended with a narrow 40-34 loss for the 49ers.
Given Purdy’s elbow injury and the team’s slip out of playoff contention, head coach Kyle Shanahan chose to start Dobbs over Allen for their season-ender, citing Dobbs’s agility as advantageous due to a makeshift offensive line.
Throughout the game against Arizona (8-9), Dobbs showed flashes of potential alongside some regrettable moments. He powered through for a 1-yard touchdown and connected with Ricky Pearsall for a 6-yard score, both completed in the second quarter. Furthermore, he linked up with fullback Kyle Juszczyk for a 36-yard touchdown that brought the 49ers closer at 26-24 during the third quarter.
“He did fairly well aside from the turnovers,” Shanahan remarked, acknowledging Dobbs’s efforts. Despite the positive notes in his play, the turnovers proved detrimental, as they often do in crucial situations.
The first interception occurred in the second quarter when Dobbs attempted to deliver a pass into a tightly defended area, allowing Arizona’s Sean Murphy-Bunting to intercept the ball at the Cardinals’ 45-yard line. The ensuing drive ended with Kyler Murray connecting with Greg Dortch for a 23-yard touchdown, granting Arizona a 20-17 lead at halftime.
As the contest remained competitive, Dobbs suffered a fumble during a left-side run that was recovered by the Cardinals at their 27. Although Arizona failed to score on that subsequent drive, they capitalized later after an interception deflected off Pearsall and was caught by cornerback Kei’Tel Clark at San Francisco’s 39. This set up another touchdown for Murray, who found Marvin Harrison Jr. for a 12-yard score, extending the Cardinals’ lead to 40-24.
“I just wanted to embrace the chance to start an NFL game, which is a rare and hard-earned opportunity,” Dobbs expressed. The season did not conclude in the manner he hoped, but he remains optimistic about the potential for future opportunities to showcase his skills.
