Chargers rookie Quentin Johnston ‘not satisfied’ with his play
COSTA MESA — Quentin Johnston wasn’t impressed by his NFL preseason debut.
Not in the least.
“It was all right,” said Johnston, a rookie wide receiver from TCU who caught three passes in the Chargers’ victory Aug. 12 over the Rams. “Obviously, not the best. Started off kind of rough. Bounced back with the touchdown. I’m not satisfied. Hopefully, coming back next week and doing better.”
Johnston caught only three of the six passes thrown his way.
“Just (a lack of) focus,” he said, referring to two dropped passes from backup quarterback Easton Stick. “Obviously, a big stage. Just not as dialed in as I would have liked to be. I thought I was, obviously, I wasn’t. So, it’s just a learning experience for me. I can keep moving forward in the future.”
Johnston rebounded by catching an 8-yard touchdown pass from Stick, capping a two-minute drill.
It’s the sort of play the Chargers expect to see more of from Johnston, their first-round draft pick in April. But if they were worried about an uneven showing during his professional debut, they weren’t about to acknowledge it publicly. In fact, they anticipate bigger and better days ahead.
Maybe a lot of them, and perhaps even starting with Sunday’s preseason game against the New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium. As far as the Chargers are concerned, Johnston is right where he should be at this stage of his pro career. They are not disappointed in him in the least.
“He’s at the beginning of his development,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley said. “(There is) so much to learn. He’s going through that rookie phase now, where you’ve been on your legs and been going, been involved in the kicking game, and you’ve been doing more than you’ve ever done. He has made plays every single day that he has been out here. But there’s a lot to learn. He just needs to keep working.”
Johnston’s speed and agility have been evident during 16 training camp sessions and one exhibition game. At times, there’s been no difference in his play than that of veterans such as Keenan Allen, Josh Palmer or Mike Williams. It’s why quarterback Justin Herbert said, “He’s going to be a star.”
Allen dismissed Johnston’s dropped passes against the Rams as something that happens to young players. Johnston is hardly the first promising young wide receiver to catch a case of the nerves playing in his first game, perhaps a tad overeager to prove he is worthy of being a first-round selection.
“Drops happen,” said Allen, an 11-year veteran, all with the Chargers. “That was his first NFL game. Jitters and being uncomfortable, a lot of things go into that. You’re still trying to find a rhythm, still trying to get comfortable. The play-calling, you’re still trying to get used to. You have to be able to settle in. That’s not going to happen in the first game. That’s tough. He’ll get better as it goes. That’s part of being a professional, understanding how to get on with it and move on to the next play.”
Given the Chargers’ depth at wide receiver, there’s zero need to rush Johnston.
In fact, there is plenty of time to find a role for him.
At the moment, he’s fourth on the unofficial depth chart at wide receiver, trailing Allen, Williams and Palmer. John Hightower is right behind him along with several others. Jalen Guyton will slot ahead of Johnston when he’s sound enough to play after suffering a season-ending knee injury last year.
“He is going to have a role and he is going to be an important part of how we play, but how much he plays is going to be determined by how he performs,” Staley said. “He has to continue to earn his way on the practice field. He has shown that he belongs out there and that he is going to be an impact player for us.”