There’s no sense in over-analyzing what amounted to a fourth preseason sport Sunday in Arizona.
Deebo Samuel was in sun shades and smiling on the sideline. Within the second quarter, George Kittle wrote “Hi Mom!” on his pill and positioned himself for the cameras so it could possibly be proven on the air. Brock Purdy was in a ballcap and following together with the play sheet.
The 49ers misplaced to the Cardinals 47-24, completed the season 6-11 and that’s the tip of the story.
However you surprise if coach Kyle Shanahan could also be regretting leaving Josh Dobbs behind Brandon Allen on the quarterback depth chart many of the season and even beginning Allen in Inexperienced Bay when Purdy couldn’t play.
Not that the choice made a distinction within the grand scheme of issues and even on Sunday. However even with a foul misplaced fumble and two interceptions, Dobbs had the look of somebody who could possibly be a viable backup for the 49ers going ahead.
The issue? Dobbs signed a one-year contract final offseason and is a free agent. It will likely be as much as Shanahan to promote Dobbs on the concept being No. 2 for the 49ers in 2025 is a greater scenario than signing on to begin for an additional potential also-ran that presumably doesn’t have the bounce-back functionality of the 49ers.
Joshua Dobbs #5 of the San Francisco 49ers runs the ball towards the Arizona Cardinals throughout the first quarter at State Farm Stadium on Jan. 05, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Picture by Norm Corridor/Getty Pictures)
Dobbs wasn’t anyplace close to excellent, with the careless misplaced sideline fumble extra egregious than both of the 2 interceptions. His first interception took a outstanding catch from Sean Murphy-Bunting when Dobbs and Jauan Jennings weren’t on the identical web page. The second glanced off the outstretched fingers of Ricky Pearsall.
However Dobbs misplaced Jennings when the large receiver was baited into an ejection within the first half after a pair of private fouls following overly enthusiastic blocks whereas he was 25 yards in need of 1,000 on the season. Kittle took a seat within the second quarter and didn’t return. Isaac Guerendo lasted two carries earlier than struggling a knee/ankle harm, leaving journeyman Patrick Taylor Jr. to hold the load.
For a lot of the sport, Dobbs, who was elevated above Allen solely in what Shanahan thought of “scramble” video games, regarded comfy working the offense to its specs whereas utilizing his legs solely when mandatory.
“I did feel good out there,” Dobbs stated. “I felt like I was seeing what the defense was doing pre-snap, post-snap, being able to take advantage of their looks. Hit the big play when it was there and also check it down and let the guys get some run after a catch.”
Dobbs accomplished 29 of 43 passes for a career-high 326 yards, with landing passes of 6 yards to Pearsall and 36 yards to Kyle Jusczcyk. He additionally scored a landing on a 1-yard run. It didn’t appear like a scramble drill. It regarded like somebody who could possibly be a match for Shanahan’s offense.
Josh Dobbs loses a fumble within the third quarter of a 49ers’ loss to Arizona. John Medina particular to Bay Space Information Group
Afterward, Shanahan’s reward for Dobbs, who turns 30 later this month, was extra faint than forceful.
“I thought Dobbs did a really good job minus the turnovers,” Shanahan stated. “You take out those turnovers and I thought he had a hell of a game.”
It’s incumbent upon the 49ers to have a veteran backup who can step in for 2 causes. First, Purdy missed a pair of video games as a result of harm this season and his irritated elbow is at the very least trigger for minor concern contemplating it underwent main repairs after the 2022 season.
Second, Purdy is due a big-money contract extension within the offseason and the 49ers haven’t been essentially the most expedient crew at getting these offers performed in a well timed vogue. On the off probability that there’s problem making the deal, the 49ers will desire a veteran quarterback taking cost of issues in OTAs and coaching camp if mandatory.
After being concerned with eight totally different organizations over an eight-year profession, Dobbs put his toes down in a single place in 2024.
“What I’ve learned is the best opportunities to learn and grow are to be standing out on the field in the fire and learning how to win games in the NFL,” Dobbs stated. “I haven’t got a lot of opportunities to do that. Being in the same offense throughout the year, this is the first opportunity I’ve had in my NFL career.”
On that stage, staying in the identical place may be interesting even when it’s as a backup.
San Francisco 49ers large receiver Ricky Pearsall (14) celebrates his landing catch with quarterback Joshua Dobbs (5) throughout the first half of an NFL soccer sport in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Jan. 5, 2025. (AP Picture/Rick Scuteri)
“I want to go to a spot where I get a chance to compete, whether it’s for the starting job or the No. 2,” Dobbs stated. “To be able to push the room and contribute week in and week out and be a guy that the team is relying on.”
Kittle wasn’t expansive when it got here to Dobbs, however appreciated his strategy all week after Shanahan stated Purdy wouldn’t play.
“You guys will get answers from him on how he thought he played,” Kittle stated. “I appreciated his grit, his toughness and his eagerness to play this week and I think that really helped us out a lot.”
Even with out turnovers, it was going to be almost unattainable for Dobbs to creator a profitable effort Sunday. Not with the 49ers shedding beginning safeties Talanoa Hufanga (concussion) and Malik Mustpapa (knee) earlier than halftime and giving up yardage in clusters to Kyler Murray and Co.
The 49ers’ 2-7 nosedive following their bye noticed them play their final 552 defensive snaps since Evan Anderson recovered a present fumble towards Chicago with no takeaway. They had been a minus-14 in turnover margin since they had been 4-4 on the bye.
Not even Joe Montana or Steve Younger might put a crew within the playoffs below these circumstances. The query is whether or not Dobbs, who performed on a one-year, $2.25 million contract, would settle for a comparatively modest contract improve to stay round for an additional yr.
“I want to have a consistent environment, a consistent coaching staff and be the best version of myself every single day,” Dobbs stated. “I’ll be excited to hit the ground running when March comes around and we’ll see where this football journey takes me.”
49ers quarterback Joshua Dobbs #5 sits pissed off after fumbling the ball throughout the fourth quarter of the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals sport performed at State Farm Stadium on Jan. 5, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the 49ers 47-24…(John Medina/Particular to Bay Space Information Group)
Initially Printed: January 5, 2025 at 6:45 PM PST
