The sun rose in the East and Quentin Johnston continues to be an issue for the LA Chargers. Stop me if you have heard that one before.
The 2023 first-round pick has built quite a negative reputation that has many fans completely checked out heading into his third season. While Johnston showed signs of improvement in his sophomore year, he still failed to deliver when the lights were the brightest. Thus, it's impossible for the fanbase to trust him.
It is even harder for fans to trust him when he shows up to Chargers training camp displaying the same issues in his game. It literally took just one practice of Chargers training camp for Johnston to go back to his old ways with a really ugly drop.
Year 3, same Quentin Johnston.. pic.twitter.com/UJonBwUEOi
— RunItBackHerbo (@RunItBackHerbo) July 17, 2025
Quentin Johnston looks like the same player at Chargers training camp
This is the last thing Chargers fans want to see out of Johnston in training camp. Every single time he makes a mistake like this, especially when it is this egregious, he will be in the spotlight.
To be fair, it's not that uncommon for drops to happen in drills like this. Heck, last year's seventh-round pick, Brenden Rice, literally dropped a pass right after Johnston. But there is a big difference in expectations between a first-round pick and a seventh-round pick hanging on for his roster life.
Johnston has also built up a reputation that rightfully follows him around in moments like these. If Ladd McConkey drops a pass in this drill it is not a big deal as Chargers fans know he will contribute. When Johnston drops a pass, well, it sends all the wrong signals.
With Mike Williams suddenly retiring on Thursday, Johnston may end up playing a bigger role on the Chargers than expected. He has suddenly been promoted to WR3 on the depth chart behind McConkey and rookie Tre Harris, who ended his contract holdout on the same day.
If Johnston keeps doing this at practice he may force the Chargers' hand to go out and get more wideout help. It doesn't matter how many positive flashes he has; if the Chargers can't trust Johnston in key spots, then they need to find someone whom they can trust.
One drill on the very first day of training camp is not going to decide someone's entire season. But when you're someone with the track record of Johnston, every little slip up is going to get noticed.