With Justin Herbert under center, the Los Angeles Chargers offense is always viewed as dangerous. The quarterback can work with whichever receiving options are available and still move the ball effectively.
However, as the scheme evolves and chemistry develops, certain players can slip out of the starting rotation and see their snaps decrease.
With the regular season entering its final stretch, players are under pressure to make an impression—both to secure their roles within the team and to strengthen their standing across the league.
Chargers Wide Receiver Labeled Player With the Most at Stake
Expectations were high for Quentin Johnston when the Chargers drafted him three years ago, but his tenure in Los Angeles has been inconsistent.
His rookie season fell short of projections, as he posted just 431 receiving yards and two touchdowns. After Jim Harbaugh took over as head coach, Johnston showed noticeable growth, finishing with 711 yards and eight scores.
Still, drops have been a persistent issue for him from the start of his career.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes Johnston faces a pivotal stretch to close out the 2025 season and warns that continued inconsistency could jeopardize his future with the team.
“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.”
Barnwell also noted: “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 amassed 534 yards—nine more than Johnston—although Johnston leads in touchdowns with seven, five more than the rookie tight end.
But with Gadsden earning more snaps in recent weeks, Johnston has seen his involvement slip. If he doesn’t make the most of the remaining games, the Chargers may decline his fifth-year option.
Quentin Johnston’s Production Threatened by Herbert’s Injury
While Johnston needs these final weeks to solidify his value, circumstances aren’t exactly working in his favor.
Justin Herbert fractured his non-throwing hand in Week 13, requiring surgery. Although he’s expected to play, it’s hard to imagine the Chargers relying heavily on his passing while he recovers, potentially pushing the offense toward a run-first approach.
That shift would impact not just Johnston’s production, but the entire offensive unit as the season winds down.
Herbert’s injury may not be devastating, but it will affect how comfortably he can throw—and the Chargers will likely be cautious to avoid further damage if he takes another hard hit.