Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh came to the defense of 2023 first-round pick Quentin Johnston when speaking to the media today.
After the team's first training camp practice, Harbaugh had this to say:
I just think he got a bad rap. I look at some of the clips coming out of training camp last year. You know, whatever it was, it just seemed like in somebody's mind he's been a disappointment. He hasn't been at all in my eyes. I see a big, fast, strong, he's stronger, that's a piece that's really been addressed in the offseason with Coach Herbert. And Quentin, just getting stronger. At that speed, the agility, his ability to catch the ball, I mean I've seen him pluck it out of the air. He's as good as anybody doing it. But combining that speed and agility, getting that strength component to go along with it. He's gonna be a problem. I've been nothing but happy with Quentin Johnston, Q. Still, I got a bad bruise from the semifinal game a few years ago. But everything I've seen in the offseason in practice, the way he trains. He's one of our top guys right now.
The quote follows a few weeks of speculation that Johnston was the fourth on the depth chart behind Josh Palmer, Ladd McConkey, and DJ Chark. This may still be the case; however, Harbaugh mentioning Johnston is one of the team's top guys right now is reminiscent of his comment that Trey Pipkins was one of their best five offensive linemen. True to his word, Pipkins was named the starter in minicamp well before any true competition with Jamaree Salyer could take place. Chargers fans are about to find out just how much the team believes in Johnston once true rotations start and the pads come on.
