Steelers release Devlin ‘Duck’ Hodges, bring back Josh Dobbs

The Pittsburgh Steelers brought back a pair of veterans of past seasons Sunday, signing quarterback Josh Dobbs and safety Sean Davis.

Dobbs was claimed off waivers from the Jacksonville Jaguars, to whom he was traded 50 weeks ago for a 2020 fifth-round draft pick. Davis was signed after he’d cleared waivers following a release by Washington.

The Steelers cut Devlin “Duck” Hodges, the undrafted rookie tryout from Samford who started six games last season, to clear roster space.

When healthy, Davis was a starter for most of his four-year career with the Steelers after being taken with a 2016 second-round draft pick. But a shoulder injury suffered during the second week of last season ended his Steelers career — temporarily, it turned out — and compelled the team to make what has the look of one of the best trades in franchise history: the acquisition of Minkah Fitzpatrick.

Fitzpatrick took over for Davis at free safety after Fitzpatrick was sent from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a first-round pick early in Week 3 of last season. Fitzpatrick became an All-Pro, and the Steelers as a result were content letting Davis walk in free agency. He signed a one-year contract with Washington but was part of its end-of-camp roster cuts Saturday.

The Steelers were thin at safety, and even moreso after sixth-round pick Antoine Brooks flopped and third-year former Penn State safety Marcus Allen began to practice with the inside linebackers last month. Journeyman Curtis Riley — signed after camp began — joined Fitzpatrick, starting strong safety Terrell Edmunds and longtime special-teamer Jordan Dangerfield as the only safeties on the 53-man roster set Saturday. With his familiarity with the defense, Davis is a natural fit to help with depth, particularly with Allen’s move to linebacker appearing more of a reality.

Riley also was released to make room for Davis and Dobbs.

Hodges raised eyebrows with a strong training camp last year, and although he was part of final cuts, he was re-signed after the Steelers dealt Dobbs.

Now, the Steelers get Dobbs back for nothing, 3½ years after they took him with a fourth-round pick from Tennessee. After a year as the No. 3 QB, Dobbs served as Ben Roethlisberger’s primary backup in 2018, attempting 12 passes in five games. But 2018 third-round pick Mason Rudolph beat out Dobbs for the No. 2 job last year.

With Roethlisberger at 38 and returning from elbow surgery, in addition to a heightened need for experienced depth in 2020 because of concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic, the Steelers view Dobbs as extra insurance.

It is possible, with practice squads expanding from 10 to 16 this season, the Steelers could stash Hodges there. Although it is difficult to get four quarterbacks sufficient reps during the season, the possibility of losing a quarterback because of a covid-19 positive test could compel the Steelers to keep four quarterbacks who know the system.

The Steelers will announce their practice squad later Sunday. Riley is expected to be on that list.

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