Washington’s answer to Terry McLaurin’s season-ending injury probably isn’t a one-for-one replacement. That kind of fix doesn’t exist.
What the Commanders can try to preserve, though, is the part of the offense that forces defenses to defend every inch of the field. Quentin Johnston fits that mission better than most available names.
Dan Quinn confirmed Tuesday that McLaurin tore his left patellar tendon against San Francisco and is out for the rest of the season. That changes the math for Washington immediately.
It isn’t just about replacing catches. It’s about keeping the passing game from losing its vertical edge.
Johnston brings the kind of profile that makes him worth a look, even if he is not a clean solution. His season has been uneven, and that matters. He has eight receptions for 165 yards and no touchdowns, but he is averaging 20.6 yards per catch, which tells the story of a receiver who can still stretch a defense when the opportunity is there.
The upside shows up in the big plays. Johnston had a 44-yard catch against Seattle and a 57-yard grab against Kansas City. Those are the kinds of snaps Washington would be trying to buy - not McLaurin’s steadiness, but the chance for a few field-flipping plays that keep safeties honest.
That matters for Jayden Daniels. If Washington can add an outside target who threatens the deep areas, defenses have less room to squeeze the field.
Johnston could be used on vertical routes, crossing patterns and specific run-after-catch chances. The trick would be keeping the role manageable at first.
The Commanders should not ask a new arrival to take on everything McLaurin handled. A smaller package would give Johnston a chance to contribute while he builds timing with Daniels. That’s the cleaner path.
Still, Washington can’t pretend the low production is only about situation. His route work and hands have to be part of the evaluation. The Commanders have to decide whether a fresh setting would actually unlock more consistency or just reproduce the same uneven results.
Los Angeles also has its own reasons to listen. The Chargers are 0-6, and that kind of start makes future draft capital look awfully attractive.
Johnston’s contract adds another layer to the equation. The Chargers exercised his fifth-year option for 2027, reportedly worth about $18 million guaranteed, so any buyer has to think beyond a short-term rental.
From the Chargers’ side, moving that commitment could create flexibility if they no longer believe the investment fits. It would also open up snaps for other receivers they want to evaluate.
But there’s a real downside for Los Angeles, too. Johnston is still an explosive piece, and trading him could mean watching another team benefit from his growth. That’s why he should not be moved simply because Washington needs help.
For the Commanders, though, the framework is simple. Johnston works as a low-cost bet with upside, not a straight substitute for McLaurin.
Washington should be aiming to protect the offense’s shape without turning one injury into another expensive mistake. If Los Angeles wants a premium pick without taking on part of the financial burden, the Commanders should look elsewhere.
In Other News...
Quentin Johnston Trade Buzz Hits One Chargers Scenario Fans Would Hate
Quentin Johnstons name has started popping up in the kind of trade chatter that always gets attention in this division, and for Chargers fans, the destination is the part that stings. A Bleacher Report piece floated Kansas City as a hypothetical landing spot, which is enough to turn a routine roster conversation into a rivalry headache, especially when a players performance and contract situation are already part of the discussion.
For now, though, it is just that - discussion. There have been no confirmed trade talks or agreement, and the whole idea sits squarely in the theoretical category, but even a speculative link between the Chargers and Chiefs tends to linger because of what the matchup already means. In a division where every small personnel wrinkle gets magnified, this is the sort of scenario that fans would rather never have to picture in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Fans Suddenly Face A Brutal Derwin James Debate
An 0-6 start has put the Chargers in a difficult spot well before the trade deadline becomes real theater, and it has naturally pushed the conversation toward roster changes rather than quick fixes. For a team that entered the season with hopes of staying competitive, the possibility of shaking up the depth chart is now part of the backdrop, especially if the front office decides the better long-term play is to gather draft capital and reset.
Derwin James sits at the center of that uneasy debate because moving a player of his caliber would say a lot about where the Chargers believe this season is headed. He has remained productive, and his standing around the league only sharpens the stakes, since any serious discussion about trading him would ripple far beyond this year and force the organization to weigh immediate value against the kind of core player teams usually build around. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Bye Week Just Turned Into A Veteran Trade Watch
The bye week has arrived at an awkward time for the Chargers, who are 0-6 and trying to sort through a roster battered by injuries while the calendar pushes toward the November 10 trade deadline. With the season already trending off course, NFL insider Tom Pelissero has put a handful of veteran names into the conversation, including Khalil Mack, Bud Dupree, Donte Jackson and Keaton Mitchell, which is the kind of midseason noise that usually follows a team in this spot.
For Los Angeles, the bigger issue is less about whether Justin Herbert is on the move, because he is not expected to be traded, and more about how aggressive the front office wants to be in reshaping a team that still has to think beyond this lost start. A deadline selloff would not just change the short-term depth chart, it would also say plenty about how the Chargers view the rest of this season and the veterans who could be of interest to contenders. [Read more 🡒]