Chargers receiver Quentin Johnston was hospitalized on Saturday night after suffering a brutal helmet-to-helmet hit.
Johnston was going out to catch a pass from Justin Herbert in the first quarter when the Rams’ Tanner Ingle hit him underneath his facemask and knocked him to the ground.
The receiver also slammed his head onto the turf as he fell, and displayed the ‘fencing’ concussion response as he briefly held his arms up while lying on his back.
While players from both teams knelt and medical personnel tended to him, Johnston eventually moved his arms and legs, then sat up and walked to the cart that took him off the field.
He could be seen holding his head on the sideline as he was carted to the locker room.
The play happened on the third play of the game and Johnston did not return.
Johnston was left motionless on his back after a huge hit from the Rams’ Tanner Ingle
He was seen holding his head as he was carted to the locker room in the first quarter
Chargers coach Jim Harbaugh later told reporters that Johnston had indeed suffered a concussion.
The receiver was sent to the hospital as a ‘precaution,’ the coach said.
The Chargers went on to narrowly lose 23-22 as Stetson Bennett had a strong game for the Rams.
Johnston, who turns 24 on Sept. 6, caught 55 passes on 91 targets last season for 711 yards and a team-high eight touchdowns.
The 21st overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft out of TCU, he has 93 career receptions for 1,142 yards and 10 TDs in 32 regular season games (21 starts).
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