Who Should I Start? Deshaun Watson or Joshua Dobbs

Tuesday, December 23, 5:00 PM

Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski confirmed that quarterback Deshaun Watson (Achilles) will not be activated off the Physically Unable to Perform list before his activation window closes, ending his 2025 season. The much-embattled Browns quarterback has not appeared in a game since tearing his Achilles tendon in Week 7 of the 2024 season. Watson struggled across seven games in 2024, completing 63.4% of his pass attempts for 1,148 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions. Previous reports have suggested that Cleveland may look to move on from Watson at the end of the 2025 season. If that's the case, the 30-year-old will finish his three-year stint with the Browns having played 19 games with an average of 6.0 yards per pass attempt, 19 passing touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. The Browns have utilized the rookie quarterback combination of Shedeur Sanders and Dillon Gabriel for most of 2025, although neither has proven to be the team's unquestioned franchise quarterback for the future.

Saturday, August 16, 6:36 PM

New England Patriots quarterback Joshua Dobbs completed 11 of his 16 pass attempts for 106 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions during Saturday's preseason win over the Minnesota Vikings. The veteran backup looked solid, albeit against the Vikings' second-team defense. With only Drake Maye and Ben Wooldridge alongside him in the Patriots' quarterback room, Dobbs is in line to earn the backup job ahead of Week 1. The 30-year-old has seen increased opportunities over the last few seasons, including the 2023 campaign in which he threw for 13 touchdowns with the Vikings and Arizona Cardinals. He spent 2024 backing up Brock Purdy in San Francisco but did attempt 47 passes through two games (one start). If Maye were to suffer an injury, Dobbs possesses the experience, mobility, and arm needed to keep the Patriots competitive down the stretch.