As the Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 37-10, in their Week 8 matchup, the team's offense looked to be clicking yet again, with quarterback Justin Herbert amassing 227 passing yards and three touchdowns on just 22 passing attempts throughout the night.
Yet, at the same time, Quentin Johnston had yet another minimal week following his breakout performances through the team's first few games, and, given the increased role being given to rookie receive Tre' Harris, the harsh truth is that this trend could continue as the season progresses.
On the night, Johnston was targeted zero times, with most of the receiving opportunities going to either Ladd McConkey or Oronde Gadsden II. While Johnston has the potential to be a serious playmaker, his inconsistencies have made him controversial within the Chargers' fan base, and, now, his role could be minimized as a result of these shortcomings.
Quentin Johnston could be losing snaps to Tre' Harris
It was frankly, a refreshing sight for everyone to see Los Angeles's offense look competent again. With the return of Joe Alt at left tackle, the offensive line, although still weak, gave Herbert just enough time to get the ball out, and big plays by both McConkey and Gadsden helped keep the offense humming all night.
Moreover, the run game finally looked viable, with Kimani Vidal rushing for 117 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries.
However, Johnston, who many would consider to be their second-best receiver after McConkey, saw the field on just 38 of the 72 offensive snaps the Chargers played in the game. Why?
Johnston looked incredible to begin the season, amassing 377 yards on 26 receptions through the first five weeks. While a nagging hamstring injury kept him out of their Week 6 matchup against the Miami Dolphins, and could certainly have contributed to his limitations the past two weeks, there is a deeper truth at play here: the ascendance of Harris.
Harris, who Los Angeles selected in the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft, presents a serious contested catch threat along with an emerging skill-set as a blocker that has endeared him to the coaching staff rather quickly. Against Minnesota, he saw 42 of the team's offensive snaps, catching two passes for eight yards throughout the course of the night.
While these numbers are certainly not eye-popping, they provide somewhat of an explanation for Johnston's disappearance. The team needs extra physicality on offense wherever they can get it, and, as Harris continues to be a contributor, Johnston could see his role continue to get minimized.
Therefore, in a rather quiet way, Los Angeles delivered a gut punch to Johnston in their dominant win over the Vikings.