The Chargers suffered a massive blow as Mike Williams was ruled out for the remainder of the 2023 season with a torn ACL.
For a team that has dealt with injuries in seasons prior, the mantra has always been “next man up.” In this case, it will be Joshua Palmer and rookie Quentin Johnston playing alongside Keenan Allen.
Buy Chargers TicketsJohnston, the team’s 2023 first-round pick, has played just 48 offensive snaps in three games, which has resulted in five catches for 26 yards.
When they drafted him, the initial plan for Johnston was to bring him along slowly as he was a high-upside player yet still had a lot to work on. But now, he will need to step up quicker than expected.
“We drafted Quentin with the belief in the player and the long-term vision,” Brandon Staley said, per the Chargers’ official website. “Now he’s going to get an opportunity. And now you’re going to see more of him.”
Johnston has the speed and explosiveness to stretch the field, outpace defenders in the open field, and has the size to stack defensive backs.
Expect Kellen Moore to design plays for Justin Herbert to get Johnston the ball in space. He averaged 8.9 yards after the catch in 2022 (10th in FBS), and his 18 forced missed tackles ranked eighth this season among receivers in the Power 5 conferences.
This weekend will be a great opportunity for Johnston to flash that tantalizing skill set facing a struggling Raiders secondary.
“All he needs to continue to do is what he’s done ever since he’s been here, which is continue to make progress on the field,” Staley added. “Over time, he’s going to make more and more plays for us. We’re really happy with him but he’s going to get to shine in a bigger way now.”
