The San Francisco 49ers haven’t played their offensive starters much during the preseason. Brock Purdy made his debut on Sunday night, completing 2-of-6 attempts for 11 yards and a 42.4 passer rating, while failing to lead his team to any points.
However, backup Josh Dobbs entered the game in the second quarter and provided a real spark for the 49ers, as they scored on all three of his drives and put up 13 of the team’s 16 points.
Dobbs finished with 133 yards through the air on 12-of-21 passing and rushed three times for 25 yards and a touchdown.
After two preseason games, Dobbs has completed 26 of 41 passes (63.4%) with one interception. On the ground, he has four carries for 31 yards and two scores. He has led the 49ers to points on four of eight drives, accounting for 19 of the team’s 29 points.
With those performances, Dobbs may have locked up the backup position behind Purdy. Now heading into his eighth season with his seventh team, Dobbs says he’s not worried about his role.
“I just go out there, take advantage of the opportunities, and let the coaches handle the pecking order and everything else,” he said. “My job is to be ready when my number is called in whatever role that is. When Brock is in there, it is my job to support him or whoever is in the game from the sideline.”
In the offseason, Dobbs signed a one-year $2.25 million contract to compete with Brandon Allen, the incumbent behind Purdy. Whether or not he’s seized the backup spot at this point, he’s made the decision for head coach Kyle Shanahan a difficult one.
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