PITTSBURGH -- The Steelers went into training camp this year with a question about who would be their No. 2 quarterback behind starter Ben Roethlisberger, incumbent Josh Dobbs or second-year player Mason Rudolph.
And when Rudolph won the job with a good preseason, Dobbs was bumped to the No. 3 spot.
Monday, Dobbs got a bump up on the depth chart -- in Jacksonville.
The Steelers traded Dobbs, a 2017 fourth-round draft pick, to the Jaguars for a 2020 fifth-round selection after Jacksonville starting quarterback Nick Foles suffered a season-ending clavicle injury in the team's 40-26 loss Sunday to the Chiefs.
The injury to Foles left the Jaguars with only rookie sixth-round draft pick Gardner Minshew on their roster. Minshew, a Washington State product, relieved Foles and completed 22 of 25 passes for 275 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
Rudolph, who has known Dobbs since their college days when they both attended the Manning Passing Camp, was sad to see his friend and teammate go.
"Everyone in that room, we're friends, we're close. We hang out on and off the field," Rudolph said. "Josh was no different. Josh was no different. He's a good dude. He's a good friend and really good guy, and I wish him the best moving forward."
Dobbs stopped in the Steelers locker room early Monday morning to clean out his locker and say his goodbyes.
"He came through and said goodbye to a bunch of the coaches and players. That's the kind of guy he is, a first-class dude," Rudolph said.
Dobbs won the backup job with the Steelers in 2018 with a solid preseason, forcing longtime backup Landry Jones off the roster. Ironically, Jones later signed with the Jaguars, spending a few weeks on the team's roster before being released.
Dobbs completed 6 of 12 passes for 43 yards and an interception last season, also scrambling four times for 11 yards.
But his play was spotty in the preseason this year, as he went 18 for 33 for 280 yards and two interceptions.
With the trade of Dobbs, the Steelers could bring back Devlin Hodges as their third quarterback. Hodges, an undrafted rookie out of Samford, was released at the end of training camp, but he completed 20 of 38 passes for 190 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the preseason.
The Steelers believe in having three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, though they now have an open spot vacated by the trade of Dobbs. They also have an open spot on their practice squad after signing wide receiver Johnny Holton and releasing linebacker Tuzar Skipper.
