Jim Harbaugh owed nothing to Quentin Johnston, yet has shown him a kind of love and support that has helped the maligned former first-round selection from the previous regime find his footing (and hands) in his second season.
Harbaugh had half a dozen former San Francisco 49ers players join his coaching staff this summer, which speaks to just how well he can connect with players. That appears no different with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Earlier this year, Harbaugh defended Johnston and called the wide receiver one of the team's top guys:
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.
So far, that has held up, as Johnston is leading the team with eight catches for 89 yards and two touchdowns.
As a rookie, the former TCU wideout did not have that many total yards until his eighth game. Today, Johnston is on pace for over 750 yards and could push even higher once the passing game starts to gel even more and he earns the trust of quarterback Justin Herbert. The Chargers were in a rough spot with DJ Chark on injured reserve and Josh Palmer dealing with a knee injury before the game and sustaining an injury during the game, so Johnston stepping up was huge for this team.
Johnston may not reach 1,000 receiving yards this year, but he is taking all the right steps to push his career to new heights and reward Harbaugh and the coaching staff for their unwavering faith in him.