Quentin Johnston and the Los Angeles Chargers played the Los Angeles Rams in Week 2 of the preseason. Johnston, a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, has so far failed to live up to the expectations and came into this season with a point to prove.
Unfortunately, he took a big hit early in the game against the Rams. Here’s the latest on the wide receiver.
Latest on Quentin Johnston’s Injury Status
Johnston took a hit from Rams defender Tanner Ingle while attempting to catch a deep ball from Justin Herbert. The incident initially looked very scary as the receiver lay on the ground without moving much.
However, the receiver was later able to move his extremities.
“Quentin Johnston is moving his hands, arms, and legs while he is being treated on the field,” wrote The Athletic’s Daniel Popper. Johnston was carted off the field.
Quentin Johnston displayed fencing posture towards the end of this clip.
Looked like his head slammed into the turf after the hit too.
Likely concussion.
pic.twitter.com/QVKXCTd1OB— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) August 16, 2025
After the game, Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh revealed that Johnston has a concussion and was sent to the hospital for evaluation, but added that this was just a precaution.
Ingle received some criticism for the unnecessary hit since Johnston failed to make the catch.
Johnston struggled as a rookie, but improved in his sophomore year. In the 2024 NFL season, the former first-round pick finished with 55 receptions for 711 yards and eight touchdowns in 15 games.
Johnston is currently placed in the concussion protocol, but he remains on track to feature in the Chargers’ season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Fantasy Impact of Johnston’s Injury
McConkey is the alpha receiver in this Chargers’ offense, and that was never going to be a question. The next man up is a question mark entering this season, and while Johnston wasn’t a favorite to soak up the plurality of those looks, he was certainly in the mix.
Thinks you love to see: Herbert to McConkey
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/JcUbRgd5ao
— NFL (@NFL) August 16, 2025
Should this injury linger, Allen’s floor rises a bit, though without a considerable ceiling, while rookie Harris’ appeal as a redraft stash increases. Herbert’s spot in the QB ranks wouldn’t flinch in this instance — he’ll remain a low-end QB1 with volume concerns.
The Chargers’ offense has two high-end pieces that you can feel great about building around. This Johnston injury could consolidate the leftover targets, but there isn’t likely enough meat on the bone to be a consistent fantasy asset.
Mason LeBeau’s Johnston’s Fantasy Outlook
PFSN’s Mason LeBeau had this to say about Johnston’s fantasy outlook for the upcoming season:
You weren’t actually thinking about drafting Quentin Johnston, were you? Or did you already, and now you’re looking for any hope or validation? Unfortunately, I can’t give that to you. You have to be in a serious pinch or a very deep sicko league to draft Johnston and then consider starting him.
In reality, maybe this is a savvy play for deep leagues. Would you have known that Johnston had three WR10-plus performances last year, including a 14-reception, 186-yard game against the Raiders? No one cared because it was Week 18, but just maybe that was the boost he needed.
But unless you’re dumpster diving for someone who’ll get snaps, you can’t count on him. Even if he were solid, a run-heavy Chargers offense with at least two-to-three targets ahead of him won’t result in much production.
If he gets his chance, you can’t bet on him to make the most of it. Nothing will be more frustrating than needing five points out of him, just to see him drop a Justin Herbert bomb in the end zone. Don’t do that to yourself.
