Another offseason, another article about Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston.
Last year, I wrote about whether it was possible for him to have a breakout season and live up to his first-round potential. The faith wasn’t strong, but when it comes to the Chargers, I’m hopelessly optimistic, so I suspended my negativity at the door to let the 2024 season play out.
Now, here we are in 2025, and it feels like we still have the same questions around his play. And those questions have gotten so big, even fellow LAFB writer Andrew Buller-Russ wrote an article about the fact that Daniel Popper of The Athletic thinks Johnston’s roster spot with the Chargers may not be a sure thing.
Last season felt like Johnston’s make-or-break year, but this season is somehow bigger. Johnston is on the bubble, and it feels like he has the most at stake on the team.
How Did Los Angeles Chargers WR Quentin Johnston Get Here?
I must admit that I did get on the Johnston train a little last season, as things were different for him than in 2023.
In Week 15 against the Buccaneers, during the second quarter, after Johnston made a reception, he turned around as he slipped a tackle by Buccaneers defensive back Tykee Smith, and ran toward the end zone, falling over the goal line for the touchdown as defensive back Christian Izien tripped him by his ankle.
And in Week 9 against the Browns, quarterback Justin Herbert got the ball to a wide-open Johnston, who carried it up the sideline for a 66-yard touchdown.
The Week 18 game against the Raiders was full of highlights for Johnston. During the second quarter, he snagged the ball and held onto it even while being hit hard by former Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane. In the fourth, he had a beautiful one-handed catch along the sideline with cornerback Decamerion Richardson in tight coverage.
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Johnston was showing his toughness and his deep-threat, contested-catch abilities, and seemed like he was on his way to finally becoming that go-to target for Herbert and the Chargers. But as much as things change, some stay the same, and there were red flags.
The sloppy ball handling was still there. He couldn’t maintain possession in the third quarter against the Falcons in Week 13, as Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell knocked the ball out of Johnston’s hands.
In the Broncos’ Week 16 game, he had a drop during the fourth quarter without any defensive interference.
While in the Wild Card game against the Texans, though there were a lot of other problems, and Herbert’s passes weren’t exactly as accurate as they normally are, Johnston had no completions from five targets. He even had an incompletion on a fourth-and-2 during the third quarter, as he couldn’t maintain control after Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. tackled him.
Texans cornerback Kamari Lassiter was also making Johnston’s life miserable in that game.
There are times when he’s able to contend with powerful defenders, times when he can make a beautiful reception, and other times he can’t. And then, when it’s his biggest opportunity in a playoff game, and he’s needed, he can’t be counted on.
A true number one receiver can find a way to make a play, and Johnston just isn’t consistent enough to truly be reliable for Herbert and the Chargers.
What’s At Stake
Johnston’s in the hot seat this summer. Because despite having a good 2024, there are others like wide receiver Ladd McConkey who had an exceptional 2024. And it’s not only the loss of the starting position or roster spot, which is bad enough, but it’s being a first-round bust.
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That kind of stigma can follow you and is what people remember long after you’ve stopped playing. And Johnston already has some calling him that.
He has a chance again to change the narrative, and he may just need one more season to be exceptional, but if he hasn’t done it yet, can he? Thoughts, Bolt Nation? Comment below.