New Tennessee Titans QB Joshua Dobbs talks return to Volunteer State, new role with team

There aren't many people who can actually brush off a tough task by saying, "Well, it's not rocket science."

New Tennessee Titans quarterback Joshua Dobbs can.

The Titans signed Dobbs off the Detroit Lions' practice squad on Wednesday after starter Ryan Tannehill injured his ankle last weekend and will not play this weekend. Dobbs, who majored in aerospace engineering while playing quarterback at Tennessee, has been diving as deep into the Titans' playbook as he can ahead of the team's game against the Houston Texans on Saturday (noon, CBS).

But it's not the toughest cram session he's ever experienced.

"In school I had to take a compressible flow exam and a fluid dynamics exam in the same day," Dobbs said. "And then I had heat transfer the next day. So those two days were a little more difficult than learning a new offense. (This situation) isn't cake, but easier within reason."

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Dobbs' NFL journey has taken more than a few stops. The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted him in 2017 and traded him to the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2019 before bringing him back in for 2020 and 2021. Before this season, Dobbs landed with the Cleveland Browns but he was waived at the end of November and signed to the Lions' practice squad, staying there until the Titans grabbed him up this week.

Dobbs isn't expected to start Saturday; that distinction will likely fall to rookie Malik Willis, who has started twice this year while Tannehill was hurt. But after watching Los Angeles Rams quarterback Baker Mayfield go from the waiver wire to leading a fourth-quarter comeback in less than a week earlier this month, Dobbs said he has to be ready for anything.

"It's not easy," Dobbs said. "Luckily there's a lot of crossover in this system from the system I've been in all year in Cleveland in terminology and overall offensive mindset, so that helps a ton. There are differences, but I've just been in the facility meeting with (quarterbacks coach Pat O'Hara), meeting with the coaches and just studying as much as I can. I feel really good."

Titans coach Mike Vrabel said Dobbs hasn't gotten to do too much on-field work in his first two days with the team because the entire team has been limited at practice by injuries. But Vrabel said Dobbs has been "fantastic" from the mental aspect and has done a good job of getting work in with O'Hara to absorb the Titans' cadence, terminology and plays.

Dobbs said the bigger issue than learning the playbook is getting in rhythm with his new teammates.

"The terminology is the easier part," Dobbs said. "Obviously it's difficult but it's the easier part. But just getting the timing as quickly as you can and getting the flow of what it's like to run this offense with these guys as quickly as you can."

Willis is a familiar face for Dobbs. The two trained together this offseason in their native Atlanta while Willis was preparing for the NFL Scouting Combine. Dobbs also played with Titans tight end Kevin Rader and outside linebacker Bud Dupree in Pittsburgh.

Dobbs says he loves Nashville and coming to the Titans feels like home, even six years removed from his time in Knoxville. Per NFL rules, Dobbs has to stay on the Titans' active roster for four weeks after being signed off a practice squad. So Dobbs' role with the Titans will grow, especially if Tannehill's injury lingers.

"They said obviously my skill set fits what the offense does," Dobbs said. "Complementing (running back Derrick Henry) at the QB position and getting the ball in the receivers' hands, and then obviously the ability to prepare and get ready to play for a game in three days. I was really excited to be here."

Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on Twitter @nicksuss.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee Titans QB Josh Dobbs quickly adjusts to new offense, team