Sitting in his office at The Bolt, Lal later added that there hasn't been some magic formula that the two have concocted in recent years.
Johnston, Lal said, was a first-round pick for a reason, even if the Chargers current front office and coaching staff weren't around back in 2023.
Yet even though Johnston admittedly struggled with drops at time in his first two seasons of his career, he's blossomed into an all-around receiver that defenses have to be aware of each and every play.
"It's real confidence born of that he's a really good player and it's showing itself," Lal said. "It's not like we've kind of manufactured this confidence. No, he's really good. He's got the skillset that a lot of people don't have.
"He's a tall receiver that's super twitchy. He can gallop, basically," Lal added. "It's really impressive and just his preparation has allowed him to showcase those skills and I think that's where the confidence has come from because he's like, 'Yeah, this is me.'"
With all of his recent success — Johnston also led the Chargers with eight touchdown catches in 2024 — surely Johnston is ready to throw some shade back at his previous doubters, right?
Instead, Johnston said he's simply used everything over the past two-plus season to fuel him.
"A lot of experience. Me going through a lot of ups and downs," Johnston said. "I feel like that kind of shaped the player I am right now, just learning from past mistakes while at the same time building on past successes."
Johnston's excellent start through the first four games of the 2025 aren't a surprise to those who have seen his work ethic up close.
Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh has raved about Johnston's demeanor and approach since he arrived in South California.
"You know, whatever it was, it just seemed like in somebody's mind he's been a disappointment. He hasn't been at all in my eyes," Harbaugh said during training camp in 2024. "I've been nothing but happy with Quentin Johnston."
Harbaugh was asked last week why he continually pumped up Johnston in press conferences. It had to be a motivating factor, right?
"I was just being honest," a serious Harbaugh said.