Steelers reshuffle QB room behind Ben Roethlisberger as Duck Hodges gets the ax

Josh Dobbs is going back to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Devlin Hodges is out

The Pittsburgh Steelers’ depth chart at quarterback is all but finalized at the top, as Ben Roethlisberger is expected to start with 2018 third-round pick Mason Rudolph backing him up. Mike Tomlin decided to shake up the back end, however, parting ways with a 2019 fan favorite.

The Steelers released 2019 undrafted free agent Devlin Hodges, who became knows as “Duck” during his rookie season. In a corresponding move, Pittsburgh added Josh Dobbs, a former Steeler who spent last season with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The Steelers had no use for Devlin Hodges after bringing back Dobbs.

After being drafted with a fourth-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, Dobbs completed six of his 12 passes over three years as a Steeler. The Jaguars traded a fifth-round pick to Pittsburgh in exchange for Dobbs to serve as Gardner Minshew’s backup after Nick Foles’ injury, but he never recorded any stats.

Hodges stepped in as a starter after injuries to Roethlisberger and Rudolph. While the former Samford star won his first three starts, including a primetime win against the Chargers. Rudolph regained his starting role after Hodges’ interception problems resurfaced. He ended the season with just five touchdown passes in seven games to go along with eight interceptions. The fact he was able to sneak on to a roster is impressive, but his flaws soon started to manifest.

Dobbs has shown that he has the arm strength necessary to compete in the NFL, and that velocity coupled with good mobility should make him the Steelers’ QB3 of choice. Hodges had a nice run, but his run in the Steel City has come to a close. Still, he showed enough as a rookie to potentially latch on with another team as a practice squad quarterback.