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 and was carted off the field.
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.
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
Johnston has likely suffered a neck injury and is expected to be placed in the concussion protocol. The Chargers will hope that the TCU product has avoided a major setback.
The initial optics suggest the hit from Ingle was unnecessary since Johnston failed to make the catch, and it’ll be interesting to see if the Rams defensive back is fined.
Johnston had a disappointing rookie season 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.
If Johnston is forced to miss time, players like Ladd McConkey, Keenan Allen, and Tre Harris will need to step up to help Herbert.
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.