Nobody should be surprised if the Detroit Lions are snooping around the backup quarterback market in the next week or so as the team gets ready for roster cutdowns. They were caught by surprise by the retirement of Teddy Bridgewater, and as things stand, it does not look like they have an adequate replacement on the roster.
The Lions let newly acquired backup Joshua Dobbs and split time with rookie UDFA Luke Altmyer, who started in the first preseason game. Unfortunately, Dobbs looked like a player who was a free agent until a little more than a week ago, and Altmyer looked like a rookie UDFA. Neither took advantage of the job.
Detroit Lions Have an Issue at Backup Quarterback
GettyJoshua Dobbs
Dobbs was 7-for-12 for 74 yards. He had a strip sack that resulted in a fumble that led to a touchdown and a bad interception. Dobbs did add 53 yards on the ground, including a 24-yard rushing touchdown. However, the performance was disheartening.
Stream on @NFLPlus
Altmyer was 9-for-13 with 86 yards. He looked a bit more poised than the veteran free agent, which is good for him but not for Dobbs.
However, he also took four sacks in the game. It should not be surprising that Altmyer has been up and down, given that the team did not invest much in him.
Their plan was to let Altmyer sit as the third quarterback for a year and see if he can develop for a year. Now, he is being thrown into the mix as the backup quarterback.
There has already been talk about the team being in the backup quarterback market, and those talks will only pick up.
Lions Will Be Backup Quarterback Destination
Detroit viewed Dobbs as the best free agent available, but when roster cutdowns happen, the team can see who is truly around for them. They could also swing a trade for a player they know will be cut.
Will Levis has already been thrown out as a fit for the Lions. He makes sense because he is expected to get cut by the Titans, but he was a former second-round draft pick.
Mason Rudolph of the Pittsburgh Steelers is another name to watch. Rudolph and former sixth-round pick Will Howard appear to be competing to stick on a roster that features starter Aaron Rodgers and rookie Drew Allar.
Aidan O’Connell is another option. He is third in line on the Las Vegas Raiders, who have Kirk Cousins, Fernando Mendoza, and a new head coach.
Tanner McKee of the Philadelphia Eagles appears to be available after the team added Andy Dalton as their backup. Lastly, Spencer Rattler and Drew Lock are in tough situations as well.
All of those options would present more potential than Dobbs or Altmyer at this point.
Detroit will give its duo one more chance to prove themselves. However, if neither can take hold of the backup job, it is going to end up being a name outside of the current roster.
Lions May Need Outside Help to Solve Struggling Position Battle