Josh Dobbs to start for Lions vs Commanders in preseason
Josh Dobbs will start at quarterback for the Detroit Lions in their preseason game against the Washington Commanders on Saturday, Aug. 22, 2026, at Ford Field. Head coach Dan Campbell confirmed the move Thursday, giving the veteran his first extended look since signing Aug. 9 after Teddy Bridgewater's retirement while Jared Goff sits out.
The decision puts a spotlight on one of the NFL's most traveled quarterbacks as Detroit evaluates its backup behind Goff. For fans tracking Celebrity Breaking News around the league, the Lions' quarterback shuffle is a key preseason storyline.
Key Takeaways
- Josh Dobbs will start Saturday's preseason game vs. the Washington Commanders at Ford Field.
- Jared Goff will not play; he has skipped the preseason since 2022.
- Dobbs and undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer are expected to split roughly equal reps.
- The backup quarterback competition remains open with two exhibition games left.
- Dobbs signed with Detroit on Aug. 9 after Teddy Bridgewater retired at the start of camp.
Why is Josh Dobbs starting for the Lions?
Campbell announced the plan Thursday in Allen Park after Dobbs saw limited action since joining the roster. The 31-year-old appeared in just three second-quarter series in last week's loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, completing 4 of 8 passes for 32 yards, according to The Detroit News.
Campbell said the staff wanted to get Dobbs up to speed while also giving Altmyer volume in practice. "Dobbs is a bright guy. He's played in this league," Campbell said. "But also, man, just making sure we got him up to speed, being true to that. And also, Luke's a young player, but he's promising. We'll get a look at Dobbs here and let him go."
Will Jared Goff play against the Commanders?
No. Campbell confirmed that Goff will not take the field Saturday. The Lions' starting quarterback has not played in the preseason since 2022, and Detroit appears comfortable preserving him for the regular season.
Campbell also said he has not yet decided which other starters will sit out the Commanders game, though he was pleased with how his first-team players looked in padded practices this week.
Who is competing for the Lions backup QB job?
The competition between Dobbs and Altmyer is still wide open. Altmyer, an undrafted rookie, has taken the bulk of backup reps since Bridgewater's surprise retirement. Against Cincinnati, he went 13 of 22 for 130 yards with one touchdown, two interceptions and a fumble.
Dobbs brings deep experience across nine teams in 10 NFL seasons. He is on his second stint with Detroit and reunites with first-year offensive coordinator Drew Petzing for a third time, having gone 1-7 as a starter under Petzing with the Arizona Cardinals in 2023.
What did Josh Dobbs say about the opportunity?
Dobbs told reporters Thursday he is "excited about the opportunity on Saturday." He acknowledged it has taken time to sync with Detroit's receivers after arriving just over a week ago.
"Even every rep of routes on air with the receivers, first time going to that guy, understanding how they come out of their breaks and cut," Dobbs said. "Every rep is a great opportunity just to maximize the skill set, but also get a feel of the guys around me." Campbell noted two preseason games and three practices remain before he must name Goff's regular-season backup.