Quentin

Johnston

There’s not much to say. Playing through a shin injury, Johnston was one of many Chargers skill players to do either nothing or close to it as Justin Herbert mustered all of 10 completions for 81 yards. You just have to hope Johnston gets healthier and the Chargers’ offense gets more resilient in LT Joe Alt’s absence during their Week 12 bye. They return in Week 13 to face the Raiders. We will fire up Johnston as a low-end WR3 for that one.

Johnston appeared to be genuinely questionable, but the nature of a non-broken leg shin injury is typically a bruise, and it would appear his has healed up enough to play. Maybe he will be more of a rotational, clear-out role player, but Johnston can still be fired up as a boom/bust WR3 option. Inactive for the Chargers are S Tony Jefferson, EDGE Kyle Kennard, OT Bobby Hart, OT Foster Sarell, WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, TE Will Dissly and DL Naquan Jones.

Johnston was limited throughout the week before being given a questionable tag. Barring a setback during warmups, Johnston will be good to go versus the Jags. Per usual, he will be a boom/bust WR3.

He worked limited sessions all week and is likely on the optimistic side of questionable. This was a new listing on Wednesday, implying that it was something that came up during Week 10’s game that he was able to play through to the tune of 10 targets. Johnston will be a WR3 against a Jaguars defense that allowed 29 offensive points to Davis Mills somehow last week.

The Chargers’ volatile perimeter wide receiver is on track to play, though a Friday upgrade would be heartening for his FLEX viability. Over the last four games, Johnston has thrice finished in the WR20-WR39 range, with one finish as the overall WR96 throw in for good measure. Check back tomorrow to see what Friday holds for him.

Johnston popped up on Wednesday’s injury report with a shin issue. There is little cause of concern as of now, given it is the first practice of the week and the 24-year-old was at least a limited participant. Rookie Tre Harris could see a boost in perimeter snaps should he miss time, but Johnston is still in the WR3 range for Week 11.

Johnston has now been held to 53 yards or fewer in each of the previous five games after a torrid start to the season in which he caught four touchdowns and went over 70 yards in each of his first four starts. Whether the added target competition from rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden is causal factor for the reduced production remains to be seen, although Gadsden did depart Week 10 with a knee injury. Johnston and the Chargers get the pass-funnel Jaguars in Week 10, where he could return to WR2 status, pending the status of Gadsden.

Although Johnston scored two weeks ago, this was the first time since September he cleared 50 yards. Today’s touchdown was a 19-yarder where Johnston caught an end zone target Justin Herbert expertly dropped in over the top of the defense. It was a much needed palette cleanser, if still not the elite production QJ posted the season’s first month. Johnston could have an even bigger day against the Steelers’ leaky pass defense in Week 10.

Johnston’s lack of involvement could have something to do with the hamstring issue he had coming into Week 7, and also because the Chargers were running the ball an awful lot against the Minnesota front. Still, zero targets is beyond concerning; especially when you see “tight end” Oronde Gadsden so much more involved in this offense (5-77-1). Johnston is a very risky FLEX play for Week 9 against the Titans.

Johnston had a rough outing in this one, dropping a pass that would have gone for more than 30 yards, and another on third down during the Chargers’ eighth drive. He was also the intended receiver on an end zone interception thrown by QB Justin Herbert, and failed to put up a preventative effort when Colts S Nick Cross made a play on the ball. Johnston is a WR4/FLEX option against the Vikings on Thursday night.