Joshua Dobbs to start vs. the Carolina Panthers in 4th preseason game

The Pittsburgh Steelers have one more preseason game left before the organization and coaching staff have to trim their roster from 90 players to 53. With that said, it is the last chance for some players to put a quality product on the football field, not just for a shot to make the Steelers’ roster, but also to put some tape out there for other teams who might want to pick them up off the NFL scrap heap.

One position which is certainly intriguing for the Steelers would be the quarterback position. The team has four quarterbacks, and fans are assuming they will keep just three, but there is a very outside chance they could keep all four.

When Mike Tomlin was asked about keeping four quarterbacks at his weekly press conference, his answer was simple:

“If you look at what happens in today’s NFL it has been done. But in today’s NFL two are probably kept more than four. So, it is probably less frequent than two at this juncture.”

Not really showing his hand, but one thing he is planning on doing is giving Joshua Dobbs the start Thursday night at Heinz Field. But don’t read too much into it, as Tomlin stated the reason behind Dobbs, and not Mason Rudolph, starting is so every quarterback will have received a chance to start a preseason game under center.

Week 1 at Philadelphia: Landry Jones started
Week 2 at Green Bay: Mason Rudolph started
Week 3 vs. Tennessee: Ben Roethlisberger started
Week 4 vs. Carolina: Joshua Dobbs slated to start

If you want a glimpse of how the playing time might be allocated between Rudolph and Dobbs, expect the Packers game, just reversed. It was there when Rudolph started, played the first half and then Dobbs came in relief starting in the third quarter.

With Dobbs starting odds are he will get a full half of time, with Rudolph coming in for the second half. It is unclear, although unlikely, Jones plays at all.

Stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the black-and-gold as they prepare for the Panthers, and check out below as you hear from some of the players getting ready for their last preseason game of the year.