Chargers’ 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston only showed up in the box score for all the wrong reasons in his team’s 30-23 “Monday Night Football” loss to the Ravens.
Zero catches, zero yards, five targets.
Johnston had three fourth-quarter drops, which included a wide-open one on third down that would have extended a drive with the Chargers trailing, 23-16.
That drop, in particular, was the backbreaker. Johnston took his eye off the ball on a third-and-6 play, having at least 10 yards to run with a blocker out in front for a potentially massive gain.
The Chargers then punted and the Ravens marched right down the field to score a touchdown that essentially put the game out of reach.
The loss dropped Los Angeles to 7-4 in Jim Harbaugh’s first season.
Johnston then also dropped two balls on the ensuing drive, as he seemed to also have issues coming out of his turn.
Harbaugh downplayed Johnston’s drops.
“I think we all have some things we wish we played, coached better,” Harbaugh said after the game. “That’s how I feel. That’s my reaction.”
Quarterback Justin Herbert also gave Johnston a vow of support despite the poor showing.
“I think that’s the tough part about the NFL. He’s a playmaker. He’s done an incredible job all year. You never want to see that,” Herbert said. “He’s a fighter. You trust him. And I’m gonna keep throwing him the ball. That’s what we did out there.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t go our way tonight. But I know he’s gonna be the first one in the building, and he’s gonna do everything the right way. He’s a truly great teammate, great guy. And he’s gonna go make some plays. He’s got a lot of good football left in front of him.”
The second-year player out of TCU has made some strides after a nightmare rookie season where he struggled to even crack the lineup with ex-head coach Brandon Staley at the helm and also had some costly drops.
Harbaugh has embraced the No. 21 overall pick since entering his new position.
“[Johnston is] one of our top guys right now,” Harbaugh said in July training camp. “[I] just think he got a bad rap … He’s gonna be a problem. He’s gonna be a problem for people. I’ve been nothing but happy with Quentin Johnston.”
Johnston roasted Michigan as massive underdogs in the 2022 College Football Playoff semifinal when Harbaugh was the coach of the Wolverines, going for 163 yards and a touchdown in TCU’s win.
Johnston has played in nine games this season, grabbing six touchdowns to go with 354 receiving yards and 22 receptions this season.
