New Cardinals quarterback Josh Dobbs ready for opportunity and battle for starting job

Josh Dobbs didn't play in the Arizona Cardinals preseason finale in Minnesota last Saturday. He appeared in just one preseason game for the Cleveland Browns, completing 8 of 16 passes for 77 yards with an interception on Aug. 11.

Less than two weeks after that effort, Dobbs was on his way to the Cardinals via trade, and suddenly found himself competing to be the team's Week 1 starting quarterback.

It's Dobbs and rookie Clayton Tune, who saw a lot of preseason game and training camp action, battling for the coveted spot less than two weeks before the season begins at Washington. Kyler Murray, rehabbing from knee surgery, will miss the season's first four weeks as the team kept him on the physically unable to perform list, coach Jonathan Gannon confirmed.

Dobbs took part in Wednesday's practice, the first day of work since the team's roster was set after cuts were made. The Week 1 53-man group isn't finalized, but Dobbs can only worry about settling in, making the most of his practice snaps, learning the offense and developing a routine in his new city of residence.

"I will say for myself, every time I step in the building, I put starting expectations on myself. So I know the QB situation is gonna play out however the coaches see fit," Dobbs said. "But for me, you know, I come in ready to compete every single day. I push myself, but also approach the room in that way. And so I'm excited to be a part of it and be a part of the team."

Dobbs already has relationships with some of the key Cardinals staffers he will need to impress to win the job. Offensive coordinator Drew Petzing and quarterbacks coach Israel Woolfork were Browns assistants when Dobbs was there for most of last season. He finished the 2022 season making two starts for the Tennessee Titans, where now-Cardinals General Manager Monti Ossenfort was the Titans' director of player personnel.

"Obviously, there's similar schemes to Cleveland, knowing Drew and 'Izzy' came from there," Dobbs said. "But every coach has their own nuances and spins that they like to put on the playbook as well as, you know, combining stuff that has been here and stuff that the players here have done well for a long time."

Dobbs confirmed that he was close to signing with the Cardinals earlier in the offseason, but opted to stick with the familiarity he had with the Browns.

Dobbs could have moved to Arizona from his native Georgia a decade ago. He was committed to sign with Arizona State to play college football, but chose Tennessee instead.

"So it all comes full circle," he said.

An aeronautical engineering student in college, the field in which he got his degree, Dobbs has found time in offseasons to pursue that passion.

"That's obviously a goal down the road. I've been able to create amazing connections in that field, the engineering world. But yeah, you know, focus on ball now. And then when that day comes, we'll make the most of the opportunity."

Tight end Zach Ertz is already building some chemistry with Dobbs.

"He's smart. Obviously I think that's well noted. He's an astronaut, or whatever he is. But he's a guy that understands football, he's played a lot of football, he's got a really good grasp of this offense," Ertz said. "He's played in the past. So him coming into the huddle calling the plays, calling the formations has been seamless so far. And he throws a very catchable ball, which as a receiver you like."

Related: Cardinals tanking accusations resurface after Colt McCoy's surprise NFL release

Ertz uncertain about playing in opener

Ertz said he isn't certain he will be able to play by Week 1 of the regular season, though he has started practicing since his knee rehab. "Still some things I need to go through ... I need to see how I recover and practice consistent days in a row. I gotta earn the trust of my teammates, the coaches, I don't expect them to just plug me in there and say 'this is Zach, for the past 10 years, he's gonna be the same in year 11,'" Ertz said. "I look forward to proving myself each and every day. And whether that's game one, game three, whenever I'm out there, I expect to be a difference maker."

Cardinals claim 6 off waivers

The Cardinals claimed six players off of waivers Tuesday. They are OLs Trystan Colon from the New York Jets, Keith Ismael from the 49ers, Ilm Manning from the 49ers, TE Elijah Higgins from Miami, CB Starling Thomas V from Detroit and S K'von Wallace from the Eagles. To make room on the roster, WR Daniel Arias, OL Marquis Hayes, S Jovante Moffatt, DL Ben Stille and TE Blake Whiteheart were released a day after making the original roster. All of those released players are eligible to return as practice squad players.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Meet Josh Dobbs, a veteran NFL quarterback who almost played at ASU