Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston made critical drops in the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens. The first drop in the sequence came on a 3rd-and-6 where Johnston bobbled what could have been a 15-20 yard pickup after the catch. LA was forced to punt and end the ride.

On the Chargers’ final touchdown drive, Johnston was targeted again almost immediately. He had two drops in a row on 1st and 2nd down. With 2:53 left in the fourth quarter, loud boos rained down at SoFi Stadium for the TCU second-year wideout’s performance.

While the Bengals game wasn’t as disastrous for Johnston, it did show that he still has some weaknesses in his contact game. This was also evident in an earlier go route in this game. While he has made progress in his second season, Johnston is still plagued by a lack of true route running, a general contact aversion and falls.

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh was asked about Johnston’s lapses after the game and admitted that Johnston could have been better without directly saying so.

“I think we all have some things that we wish we played and coached better,” Harbaugh said. “That’s how I feel. That’s my reaction.”

When asked if his drops were “harrowing,” Harbaugh said he disagreed with that use of the word.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert actively supported his teammates in his postgame media availability:

“I think that’s the hard thing about the NFL. He’s a playmaker,” explained Herbert. “He has done an incredible job all year. You never want to see that. Just like when I make an interception or when I miss a throw, he comes up to me and tells me, ‘Hey, it’s the next play.'” And that’s how it is. Everyone in this dressing room will do a great job, it’s not just him, it’s also me. I have to deliver the ball. I have to make sure we’re all on the same page. He is an incredible player and I will continue to throw the ball to him.

The Athletic’s Daniel Popper asked whether the way Johnston has improved gives Herbert confidence to bounce back. Herbert’s answer:

“He is a fighter. You trust him. And I will continue to throw him the ball. That’s what we did out there. Unfortunately things didn’t work out the way we wanted this evening. But I know he’ll be the first one in the building and he’ll do everything right, a great guy, and he’ll have a lot of good games ahead of him.

Johnston will get a chance to shake off this week’s performance against the Falcons next week when the Chargers travel to Atlanta again.