With quarterback Justin Herbert behind the center, the Los Angeles Chargers offense will also be considered a threat. The quarterback can deal to whatever receiving option he has out on the field with him and make do.
But to fit the scheme of the offense and form chemistry, some players may fade out of the starting offensive 11 and may not receive playing time.
The regular season is approaching its final weeks, which will force players to show out in the last few weeks and try to cement their role not just on their respective team, but also in the league.
Chargers Wide Receiver Named Play With Most At Stake
GettyLos Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston
There was high hopes for Quentin Johnston when the Los Angeles Chargers drafted him three drafts ago, but his time in LA has been a bit shaky.
He didn’t live up to the standards that were expected of him in his rookie season, recording only 431 receiving yards and 2 touchdown catches. The Bolts hired Jim Harbaugh as head coach, with the wide receiver making a jump in improvement, logging 711 yards and 8 touchdowns.
But the key thing that has been lacking for the WR are his drop, which has been an issue for him since his rookie season.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes that Johnston has a lot at stake for the remainder of the 2025 NFL season and could possibly see his way out of the team if his performances do not improve.
“The 21st pick of the 2023 draft, Johnston couldn’t find a regular role as a rookie while struggling badly with drops. He was much improved in Year 2 after Jim Harbaugh took over… [He] is probably never going to have vice-grip hands, but even with the drops, he can be a productive player” Barnwell wrote. “The problem has been the emergence of rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden II, who has served as a viable vertical threat and drawn targets away from the third-year pro.”
“Johnston topped 70 receiving yards in each of his first four games, but after the Chargers gave Gadsden more playing time in October, Johnston has yet to top that mark since…This offseason, though, the Chargers have to decide whether they want to pick up Johnston’s fifth-year option for 2027, which would guarantee the 24-year-old $17.5 million. That’s not an unreasonable figure… but it’s more than L.A. would like to pay a player who has gone missing for stretches while Gadsden has been in the mix.”
Gadsden has 534 yards this season, which is 9 more than the wide receiver. On the other hand, Johnston has 7 touchdown catches, 5 more than the rookie tight end.
As mentioned, the former Syracuse tight end has been used more in recent weeks and has slowly faded Johnston out. If the wide receiver fails to capitalize the rest of the season, he may not have his fifth year option clause in effect.
Quentin Johnston Production In Jeopardy With Injured QB
GettyJustin Herbert is dealing with a hand injury
While Quentin Johnston is hoping for the best, he should expect the worse.
Justin Herbert fractured his non-throwing hand in Week 13 which required him to have surgery. The QB is projected to play, but it would be difficult to see Herbert throwing the ball much and the Bolts go a more run heavy offense the next few weeks.
This will affect not only Johnston’s on field production, but the entire offense in the last weeks of the season.
Maybe Herbert’s injury is not as bad as it sounds, but it will affect the players throwing capabilities. It will also be a precaution for the Chargers if Herbert takes another hard hit and force him to hit the sideline the remainder of the season.
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