Years after Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes professed "emphasis" on the No. 2 quarterback spot, we're still waiting to see it come to full fruition. The latest chapter was a quick pivot to Josh Dobbs after Teddy Bridgewater retired.
Dobbs' history with offensive coordinator Drew Petzing informed the fit, and surely led to the quick move to sign him when Bridgewater told the team he was retiring. When called up at times in his career Dobbs has performed well, but he is also a dictionary definition of a journeyman and his overall preseason showing didn't inspire a ton of confidence.
Which is to say, with only undrafted rookie Luke Altmyer otherwise on the depth chart behind Jared Goff, Holmes should have his eyes open for opportunities to add a veteran.
Lions' pursuit of the ideal backup for Jared Goff doesn't have to be over
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano are bringing back their weekly notes column for the new season. In the Week 1 edition, they considered which quarterback situation is going to be the most interesting over the first month.
Fowler dug up one that is under the radar compared to others.
"Arizona's quarterback situation is underplayed, possibly because of the Cardinals' perceived noncontender status and Carson Beck being a third-round pick. But they absolutely have enough talent to move the ball, and Brissett averaged 280.5 passing yards per start over 12 games last season. If Brissett plays well but the Cardinals struggle to win, he could be a trade candidate at midseason. That opens a path for Arizona to see what it has in Beck, who acquitted himself well in the preseason, before considering their 2027 draft options."
Brissett proved how his production is completely independent of the Cardinals winning games last season, with the aforementioned 280.5 passing yards per game with nearly a 3-to-1 touchdown-to-interception over his 12 starts.
Arizona won one of those 12 games, and a similar repeat is definitely in play early this season. If he's still starting in Week 5, and he very well could be, the Lions will get an up-close look at him when they take on the Cardinals.
READ MORE: 6 Lions players who already have their backs against the wall in Week 1
Petzing was of course Arizona's offensive coordinator last season, when Brissett played the best football of his career. He was also the Cleveland Browns' quarterbacks coach in 2022, when Brissett started 11 games with a 2-to-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio and passable numbers otherwise.
Brissett being under contract, and then holding out in order to get some resembling a starter-level adjustment to his pay for this year, helped keep him in a Cardinals' uniform entering the season. Those barriers are gone now, and he's well in line to become a tradeable asset like Fowler suggested.
Brissett lurks as the ideal backup for Goff, with the perfect combination of ability to perform well and history with Petzing, and he should be on Holmes' radar to some degree right now.
If the Cardinals start 0-3 or something, Brissett could be on the other sideline by the time the Lions travel to Arizona.
Add us as a preferred source on Google