Has quarterback Joshua Dobbs earned the No. 2 job with Cleveland Browns? Looks that way.

CLEVELAND — Joshua Dobbs’ 36-yard scramble wasn’t just the Browns’ top play, it may be forever known in Northeast Ohio as the “crop top” play.

The first-quarter moment epitomized the versatility and elusiveness of the Browns’ third-string quarterback who will likely serve as Jacoby Brissett’s backup while Deshaun Watson is suspended for the first 11 games.

The run in the first quarter of Sunday’s 21-20 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles at FirstEnergy Stadium left some wondering why Brissett won’t be taking a backseat to Dobbs while Watson sits out.

For the second consecutive game, Dobbs showed how effective he could be with his feet, and this time he did it with flair, tip-toeing down the left sideline with a long tail from his undershirt flying behind him.

He’s amazed he didn’t step on it.

“I didn’t feel him grab it. I saw the string like down to my ankle. I was running while I was looking at the sideline,” Dobbs said. “I was like, 'Don't step on it. Just keep running.'”

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The Eagles’ Andre Chachere came around the left end on a safety blitz, grabbed at Dobbs and missed all but the cotton top.

“I don't know how he got it because it was barely under my jersey,” Dobbs said. “So he got my undershirt, but he just made a nice little crop top.”

After practicing against the Eagles on Thursday and Friday, Browns coach Kevin Stefanski rested his starters. That included Brissett, who took over first-team reps last week before the Watson news was announced on Thursday.

In his four series, Dobbs led touchdown drives of 83 and 75 yards, with the other two possessions resulting in Cade York field goals. That included a two-minute drive at the end of the first half that saw York kick a 19-yarder as time expired.

Dobbs showed his escapability on the first series. The Browns ground out 72 yards on the ground, 43 of that by Dobbs on three carries, including a 3-yard TD set up by his scramble.

Of the long run, Dobbs said he was confident he would stay in bounds.

“I wasn't worried about that,” he said. “I saw the linebacker coming over and I was like ‘Alright, it's a foot race. If I can get around him, I’ve got a shot.’ Then like everyone stopped, but I kept going obviously. It was a little confusing.

“I’ve just got to keep my feet, I’ve got to make one more guy miss for a touchdown, but no, it was a good play. A good, productive play.”

Dobbs completed 14 of 20 for 141 yards and an 89.8 rating and rushed four times for 47 yards and a score.

“He moved around really well,” Stefanski said of Dobbs. “That scramble down the left sideline was obviously outstanding. Got us in the right plays like he does. A very intelligent young man. He gave the guys opportunities to make some plays.”

Browns running backs were even more impressed.

“Man, Dobbs is nice out of the backfield with the ball in his hands. He’s got great speed, great moves, he’s done a great job for us so far,” D’Ernest Johnson said.

“That boy is smooth just the way he runs,” rookie Jerome Ford said.

John Kelly Jr. played 2015-16 at the University of Tennessee with Dobbs, so he wasn’t surprised.

“Josh is an electrifying playmaker on his feet, so it just adds another dynamic to it,” Kelly said.

A fourth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2017, Dobbs has thrown only 17 career passes, completing 10. Those came in 2018 and 2020.

Dobbs was with Jacksonville in 2019 but spent four of his six NFL seasons in Pittsburgh. He suffered a foot injury last year in a preseason game against the Carolina Panthers and missed the whole season rehabbing.

Dobbs said he hasn’t gotten this much playing time in the preseason since his rookie year, but he believes he’s showing the same type of skills. Including an 24-13 victory at Jacksonville on Aug. 12, Dobbs has completed 24 of 33 passes for 249 yards and a 94.1 rating and rushed five times for 56 yards and a TD.

“I'd say it's pretty consistent with what I've been doing during my time [in Pittsburgh], during my time in Jacksonville during a COVID year. It's just just great to get this opportunity right?” Dobbs said.

But he’s not determined to prove to the Browns he should be their No. 2 for the first 11 games.

“I wouldn’t say determined to prove anything,” Dobbs said. “I would say just go out and just play and control what I can control. Just maximizing those reps … because … when the lights are on, they prepare you for those opportunities.

“So I know there's a lot of chatter and there's a lot of people above me that make a lot of decisions that go on with the team. I’m not worried about that because they control that. My job is every time they put 15 on the field or in practice to go out and execute it to the game plan.”

On Sunday, Dobbs leaped to try to score on the final series of the first half. On the scramble, he lamented being brought down by cornerback Josh Jobe at the Eagles 3. Dobbs scored on the next play, fumbling a low snap that was supposed to go to Johnson. But Dobbs left knowing he’d given it everything he had.

“Yeah, I do that every time I step on the field. That's just how I play,” Dobbs said. “I think football's a very fragile game. I learned that very quickly last year, but I've been playing since I was 5.

“So no matter the circumstances every time I step on the field I just want 1, to win, 2, to play well and 3, to put my team in the best position to win. So whether it's throwing the ball, using my legs, I'm extending plays, however I need to do it all in the framework of the game.”

Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/MRidenourABJ.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Former Tennessee Vols QB Joshua Dobbs makes case for backup role with Cleveland