Chargers’ Quentin Johnston reignites criticism with terrible loss to Ravens

LA Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston has had one of the most disappointing rookie seasons of any 2023 first-round pick. Johnston was unable to contribute much to the Chargers’ offense and even lost a game for the Chargers, resulting in an elimination against the Green Bay Packers.

Johnston responded positively to his poor rookie season and started the 2024 season. A two-touchdown game against the Carolina Panthers highlighted what appeared to be a defining moment for the former TCU wideout.

However, continue Monday Night Football against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 12, Johnston reminded every Chargers fan why they can’t trust him. Johnston dropped perhaps the best-catching pass of all time on third down with the Chargers trailing by seven in the fourth quarter.

The play would have resulted in a first down and much more for the Bolts. Instead, the Chargers were forced to punt, which resulted in the Ravens running off the field and making it a 14-point game. What a swing.

The Ravens outscored the Chargers on Monday night, and to say a Johnston drop was the reason why would be disingenuous. Baltimore did virtually whatever it wanted on offense while the Chargers failed to score a touchdown after the game’s first drive.

However, Johnston’s loss represented a moment in the game when Chargers fans knew it was over. The team wasn’t even seven years old when it happened and certainly had a chance to win, but you could feel the energy of the entire fan base being sucked out of the building.

The Chargers had to play a perfect game to beat the Ravens on Monday. Baltimore threw the entire kitchen sink at Los Angeles (including a fourth-down attempt from the team’s own 18-yard line that was converted). The Ravens forced the Chargers to be perfect, and they weren’t.

Johnston’s drop was a microcosm of the rest of the game. It was the perfect representation and metaphor for the rest of the game. Los Angeles played a sloppy game. Baltimore was the better team. Plain and simple.

And for what it’s worth, Johnston dropped another pass on the Chargers’ final drive of the game. This decline wasn’t that consequential, but it just plays into the stories.

Unfortunately for Johnston, this decline is enough to reignite the narratives. And as long as he continues to make important drops in big spots, these narratives won’t go away.