Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston was forced out of Saturday’s preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Rams after absorbing a devastating hit that left him with a concussion.
The collision came early in the first quarter as Johnston sprinted down the sideline chasing a pass from quarterback Justin Herbert. Rams safety Tanner Ingle closed in and delivered a crushing blow on just the third snap of the Chargers’ opening drive.
Witnesses inside SoFi Stadium watched as the 23-year-old wideout fell hard onto his back, arms stretched out, lying motionless for several tense moments before team trainers rushed to his side.
Harbaugh: “It Could Have Been a Lot Worse”
Head coach Jim Harbaugh revealed afterward that Johnston was immediately transported to a hospital for further evaluation.
“Quentin suffered a concussion, and that’s never a good thing,” Harbaugh said.
“But the way it looked there at the time, looked like it could have a been a lot worse. And he was taken (to a hospital) for more evaluation, but he was talking. He remembered the play. He was moving good. So in that way, it’s a good thing.”
The Chargers staff later confirmed Johnston had movement in all his extremities, giving the organization some relief despite the frightening circumstances.
Promising Career Interrupted
Drafted out of TCU with the 21st overall pick in 2023, Johnston entered his third NFL season looking to solidify a starting role. Last year was his breakout campaign, posting 55 receptions for 711 yards and eight touchdowns, cementing himself as one of Herbert’s emerging targets.
With Keenan Allen still anchoring the receiving corps and Tre Harris and Ladd McConkey also vying for snaps, Johnston had been slotted as the Chargers’ No. 2 option heading into the season.
Timeline Still Uncertain
While Harbaugh stressed that Johnston avoided the worst-case scenario, the timetable for his return remains up in the air. The Chargers will now wait on test results before determining how long their young playmaker will be sidelined.
For now, his absence creates yet another hurdle for a team aiming to rebound from last year’s struggles and make a deeper playoff push.
