Quentin Johnston suffered a concussion in the Chargers' preseason opener against the Rams after a big hit from Tanner Ingle on a Herbert pass. Diagnosed as a precaution, Johnston was taken to the hospital but later sat up as he was escorted off the field. Johnston, LA's 2023 first‑round pick, carved out a role as a deep threat last year with 711 yards and eight touchdowns on 55 receptions, setting expectations for a bigger volume in 2024. KeAndre Lambert-Smith also exited with an injury, signaling early depth questions for LA's receiver corps.

Those hits cast a shadow over LA's passing game as fantasy managers weigh the impact. With Johnston possibly sidelined, Herbert's downfield options could shrink, elevating Keenan Allen and Palmer and potentially thrusting Lambert-Smith into a larger role if healthy. The Rams opened with a physical stance that underscores the risk of early-season injuries, leaving the Chargers to recalibrate their WR rotation while Johnston’s status remains the focal point for Week 1 projections.

Quentin Johnston, LA Chargers' 2023 first-rounder and a go-to deep target, left the preseason game against the Rams on the opening series after a big hit, carted off but later able to sit up. He finished last season as the team's top TD getter with eight grabs for 711 yards on 55 receptions, highlighting his big-play upside. KeAndre Lambert-Smith, a rookie, also exited with an injury, further thinning a Chargers receiving corps that already endured a rough camp and is without Rashawn Slater for the year after a torn patellar tendon. LA rolled out most starters despite health concerns on defense with Derwin James and Khalil Mack watching from the sideline. The Rams tested depth behind a lineup that keeps Herbert under center, while Johnston’s status looms large for immediate fantasy impact.

The injuries underscore how quickly a WR corps can shift in the NFL’s ongoing ladder of depth, with Johnston and Lambert-Smith as the primary names to monitor. Slater’s season-long absence leaves a palpable void on the line, salting the potential for pressure and affecting both Herbert’s timing and pass efficiency. In a preseason where top players rested, the Chargers emphasized evaluation of backups and role players, making immediate production from Johnson’s and Lambert-Smith’s replacements critical for fantasy managers in PPR formats.

Herbert’s first true preseason action of 2025 yielded a flash deep shot to Quentin Johnston before a frightening moment sent the rookie to the sideline. Johnston’s exit comes with the Chargers already juggling injuries and a shaky August lead-in, making every rep crucial for a rookie entering a crowded WR room. Rashawn Slater’s season-ending blow earlier in the summer worsens the depth chart questions up front, amplifying early-season concerns about pass protection and receiver timing.

With Johnston banged up and the WR pecking order thinner behind Keenan Allen, fantasy managers will watch closely how the Chargers allocate targets in the coming weeks. If Johnston misses time, Joshua Palmer and other depth options could pick up meaningful volume early, reshaping interim projections in LA. The Rams defense responded with physicality, and a hard hit from Tanner Ingle underscored the physical stakes of this game.

Overall, the episode reinforces a practical fantasy takeaway: early August injuries and unexpected preseason lulls can shift depth charts quickly. Johnston’s health will dictate whether he anchors the Week 1 role or if others absorb the early targets, while the Chargers’ o-line health will influence Herbert’s ceiling in the opening weeks.

Stetson Bennett spun a polished showing for the Rams, throwing for 324 yards and threading a pivotal 40-yard fourth-down connection to Brennan Presley, who tracked the ball over Rams defenders and outleaped the coverage for a key gain. The Rams flashed big-play ability and a confident pocket presence in the preseason, signaling potential for their aerial package when the starters aren’t resting. The Chargers answered with flashes from their young pass-catch corps, even as Quentin Johnston exited with a concussion early on.

KeAndre Lambert-Smith stepped in with a 29-yard completion-and-run and later a 37-yard gain, illustrating depth behind Johnston and a developing rapport with the QB. Luke Grimm delivered a highlight with a 65-yard punt return for the Chargers, underscoring his speed and potential as a return man and role player. Rookie Tre Harris seized the moment with six catches for 85 yards, a breakout in this game that raised his profile in camp. Defensively, TeRah Edwards made a big impression with an interception and a memorable late collision at the boundary, while Justin Herbert logged his first preseason action of 2025 and Trey Lance continued to shine with a series of productive plays, including a 12-yard connection to Harris and a 37-yard gain early in his involvement.

Overall, the matchup offered a blend of evaluating depth and prompting fantasy consideration: Presley and Lambert-Smith flashed upside for the Rams and Chargers respectively, while the ongoing QB cues from Herbert and Lance keep a keen eye on the Chargers’ quarterback depth chart. The health note on Johnston looms over the Chargers’ WR pipeline, but the game still delivered multiple bright spots for fantasy managers to monitor as rosters shake out.

Gabe Murphy, the Vikings' undrafted UCLA edge rusher, erupted in Minnesota's Saturday preseason win, delivering two sacks and consistently pressuring Texans passers. After a rookie year largely spent rehabbing a knee, Murphy's offseason grind and a healthy camp are translating into game-ready explosiveness. He sits behind a deep group but is emerging as a potential rotational contributor, a storyline Kevin O’Connell has hovered over since the start of camp.

The Vikings also teased future depth pieces like Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, a rookie with first-team reps who can play inside or on the edge, while Minnesota shuffled its line with guard Michael Gonzalez and a IR stint for Matt Nelson. The ensemble backdrop includes notable veterans and young players—Jefferson’s hamstring absences, Metellus’ return, and a wave of practice intensity heading into joint sessions with New England—setting up a high-stakes competition for Week 1 roles and fantasy upside.

Complicating the picture are Grayson Murphy, Gabe’s twin and Dolphins linebacker, Kedon Slovis’s Texans exposure, and a handful of veteran pieces who shape the Vikings’ rush strategy. The overall message: Murphy’s ceiling rises with continued production, Ingram-Dawkins’ versatility adds internal pressure, and the Vikings’ defensive depth could turn preseason momentum into real-season fantasy value.