In the Chargers’ loss to the Bills, wide receiver Quentin Johnston caught three passes for 40 yards. But the play that defined his afternoon came late in the fourth quarter: wide open on third-and-10 with the game still within reach, Johnston dropped a perfectly placed pass from quarterback Justin Herbert that would have moved the chains.
A day later, head coach Jim Harbaugh was asked directly about what he’s seen from Johnston this season. Harbaugh's answer was clear and consistent with the support he’s offered since taking over in 2024.
“It’s the same (as what I’ve said). We want to be better. … We got to look at our scheme. We got to look at how we’re performing, how we’re doing things and who’s doing it. I think he’s a tremendous, talented
player that we have the responsibility to put him in the best position as possible. All the things we’re tackling, I mean, are things that show up in the stat sheet and don’t show up in the stat sheet. So that’s my best answer for you.”
Johnston’s 2026 numbers remain modest—six catches for 64 yards on 16 targets through three games, still searching for his first touchdown. The drop issues that have followed him since his rookie year resurfaced at a pivotal moment in Buffalo, and the Chargers fell to 0-3 despite forcing five turnovers.
The Chargers picked up Johnston’s fifth-year option in the spring, locking him in through the 2027 season and guaranteeing him a projected $18 million salary. The move signaled that the front office and coaching staff still see upside in the 2023 first-round pick despite his uneven production.
Harbaugh has long praised Johnston's size, speed, strength, and work ethic, previously calling him someone who would “be a problem” for defenses. However, if he doesn't improve and the drops keep costing the Chargers in key moments, the organization may eventually be forced to reconsider the long-term investment it made.
This article originally appeared on Chargers Wire: Chargers’ Jim Harbaugh backs Quentin Johnston despite costly drop
