The Tennessee Titans will start sixth-year veteran Josh Dobbs at quarterback against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Saturday, coach Mike Vrabel announced.
“Josh will be our quarterback,” Vrabel said Monday, via the Titans’ team website. “I think he is ready for the opportunity and is looking forward to it. … I just think he gives us the best chance right now.”
Dobbs, 27, was signed by the Titans on Dec. 21 from the Detroit Lions practice squad. A week after joining the team, Dobbs started a Thursday Night Football game against the Dallas Cowboys. He finished with 20 completions on 39 attempts for 232 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
Tennessee previously relied on Ryan Tannehill as its starter, but he suffered an ankle injury that required surgery and eventually landed him on injured reserve. Third-round rookie Malik Willis inherited the starting job, but didn’t eclipse 100 passing yards in any of his three starts and has no touchdowns with three interceptions on the year.
“I am fairly confident Malik is going to do something to help us win in this football game,” Vrabel said. “The message to Malik is to continue doing what he has been doing, which is continue to study, continue to use the practice reps to his advantage, to help the game slow down for him when he is out there, that is the most important thing.”
The 8-8 Jaguars are one game ahead of the 7-9 Titans heading into the regular season finale. A win for Tennessee would leave the teams with matching 8-9 records and the Titans would win the AFC South via a superior record in divisional games.
