There are several great rookie wide receivers making an impact across the NFL in 2023. Tank Dell has been a reliable playmaker for fellow first-year starter CJ Stroud with the Houston Texans. Jordan Addison has picked up WR1 duties with the Minnesota Vikings with Justin Jefferson sidelined. Zay Flowers emerged as the Baltimore Ravens’ top wideout in a punishing offense.
Then there’s Quentin Johnston, who we only ever seem to talk about when discussing his failures. Johnston, drafted ahead of all those guys with the 21st overall pick, was last seen here dropping what could have been a game-winning touchdown against the Green Bay Packers in Week 11. On Sunday, the Los Angeles Chargers lined him up with a shot at redemption.
It went poorly.
Quentin Johnston drops a perfect throw from Justin Herbert. Brutal pic.twitter.com/8BCYwwSa3e
— Ben Brown 🌻 (@BenBrownPL) December 3, 2023
Johnston could have converted third-and-long and set up a scoring opportunity that could have sealed the game against the New England Patriots’ putrid offense. Instead, he bobbled the ball before eventually ditching it out of bounds. One play after a perfect laser from perpetually frustrated young quarterback Justin Herbert, the Chargers were forced to punt.
Needless to say, fans and analysts weren’t happy.
Quentin Johnston pic.twitter.com/SBzi8gVQ6d
— @The___SAD (@The___RAD) December 3, 2023
We may have just seen the most “how did he drop that” drop in NFL history from Quentin Johnston.
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) December 3, 2023
Quentin Johnston gives up on his route early, starts jogging, then drops a pass right in his bread basket.
An abject disaster. No way around it.
— Bolt Beat (@BB_Chargers) December 3, 2023
I can’t say with certainty that Quentin Johnston is in the league in five years pic.twitter.com/BPpu6qCGmi
— Pranav Sriraman (@PranavSriraman) December 3, 2023
quentin johnston dropped the most passes in college football last year. that has translated to the NFL pic.twitter.com/rgjrDs65Zk
— Borna Nazari (@thehogwatch) December 3, 2023
QUENTIN JOHNSTON (always) pic.twitter.com/p4bjkgghs0
— DJ Bean (@DJ_Bean) December 3, 2023
Ball hits Quentin Johnston in the hands, me: pic.twitter.com/d8Ud75ixMk
— Braden Shamo (@BradenShamo) December 3, 2023
Herbert makes a ridiculous throw that Johnston initially had, but the Chargers rookie drops it at the last second. Can't throw that ball any better.
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) December 3, 2023
The Quentin Johnston experiment really is fairly simple.
He only catches passes in the first hand position, and always bobbles catches in the second hand position. Have him run routes accordingly. pic.twitter.com/AFjhKpdMdA
— Jeff Mueller, PT, DPT (@jmthrivept) December 3, 2023
QUENTIN JOHNSTON pic.twitter.com/NSXyxeshj7
— Cyrus (@_cyhigh) December 3, 2023
In the 2023 NFL draft, the Chargers selected Quentin Johnston at No. 21 overall
The Ravens selected Zay Flowers at No. 22 overall pic.twitter.com/D4kQ88kjU5
— Kevin Oestreicher (@koestreicher34) December 3, 2023
Justin Herbert showing up every week to throw passes to Quentin Johnston and Jalen Guyton pic.twitter.com/yUZE2KfCLu
— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) December 3, 2023
Quentin Johnston not seeing the end of his rookie contract. I fear it's that bad.
— They Got Me (@PaulTweetsRIP) December 3, 2023
Quentin Johnston when it’s time to make a play: pic.twitter.com/PlnHicl623
— Simpsons NFL (@TheSimpsonsNFL) December 3, 2023
Quentin Johnston seeing his career wash away in the rain pic.twitter.com/ZapGkJ6ghH
— Ben Brown 🌻 (@BenBrownPL) December 3, 2023
