Quentin Johnston turns heads at Chargers training camp after Jim Harbaugh's support

Quentin Johnston is one of the most polarizing players on the LA Chargers roster heading into the 2024 season. If there is anyone who needs to put together a good training camp it is a sophomore first-round pick who failed to live up to expectations in his rookie season.

Despite Johnston having an awful rookie season with the Bolts, new head coach Jim Harbaugh (and his quarterback, Justin Herbert) have hitched their wagons to the former TCU wideout. Harbaugh was extremely complimentary of Johnston after the first day of training camp, calling him one of the Chargers' top guys.

Fans still need to see it out of Johnston before they buy everything Harbaugh is saying. The six-foot-four receiver did exactly that on the second day of Chargers training camp, turning in one of the best highlights during the passing period.

Quentin Johnston takes first (small) step to proving Chargers' head coach Jim Harbaugh right

It is going to take much more than one promising highlight for Johnston to prove he is due for a breakout season with the Chargers. After all, any player on the roster can have one good play that makes them look much better than they are. Simi Fehoko did that during OTAs.

But that does not change the fact that this is a step in the right direction for Johnston. The more he can put together plays like this during training camp the more his confidence will grow.

That was part of the problem with Johnston in his rookie season. Not only was Johnston miscast in the role he was playing in Kellen Moore's offense, but early struggles completely shot his confidence. That is a recipe for disaster for any young wide receiver in this league.

Harbaugh is looking to build up that confidence, as evident by his comments from the first day of training camp. Now Johnston is repaying the favor by proving his head coach right the next day. The more this happens, the more and more fans will feel confident in Johnston in 2024.

If Johnston can turn the corner and turn into a productive wide receiver then suddenly the Chargers' cast of weapons looks much better. The Chargers' playmakers were ranked dead last in the entire league and that can change if Johnston takes a step up (along with Ladd McConkey being impactful in year one and Joshua Palmer staying healthy).

There is a long way from the second day of training camp until the start of the regular season. If Johnston can just get slightly better with each practice then the 2024 season might end up being a special one.

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