TCU connection shine in Chargers’ preseason win

(News4usonline) – Derius Davis and Quentin Johnson were both drafted  by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2023 NFL Draft. Both Davis and Johnson played and starred for TCU during their collegiate careers. 

Both players were suited up for the national championship game where TCU lost out to the Georgia Bulldogs. And outside of being somewhat overshadowed by the two touchdowns scored by running back Elijah Dotson, the Chargers rookie wide receivers made a good first impression. 

The Chargers wound up rushing for 214 yards as a team  in their 34-17 preseason win against the Los Angeles Rams. Dotson provided 92 of those yards on the ground.   

“I thought what you saw tonight is kind of what we have seen since rookie minicamp, is that he does have a burst,” Chargers head coach Brandon Staley said. “He is decisive and we think he can finish runs, so even for a stature, he runs powerful.”

Both Davis and Johnston scored first-half touchdowns. Davis, drafted in the fourth-round by the Chargers, electrified the crowd with a 81-yard punt return for a touchdown early in the second quarter. 

On his exciting run, Davis displayed what was said about him in a NFL Draft Scouting Report by the Draft Network. The report states that as a returner, Davis has the ability to “accelerate and decelerate instantly, making it tough for defenders to get angles on him.” 

That’s exactly what he did on this punt return for a score. Davis caught the ball, put some wiggle in his step before accelerating for the home run, leaving several defenders behind.  

”Yeah, I thought that he was ball secure. I thought he was decisive,” Staley said about Davis’ game-changing punt return. “He set it up the way we wanted to, and then he finished it. I think you saw that elite speed that he has and that’s why we did draft him for that game breaking speed. But he still has to earn our trust. Did not take any big hits tonight, so that will be the challenge for him is when he really takes those NFL hits, but today was obviously a good start for him.”

Not to be undone, Johnston, snatched at the No. 21 spot of the first-round by the Chargers, made sure he got on the scoreboard, catching a short touchdown pass from Easton Stick just before halftime. 

The difference between the two former TCU standouts is that the Chargers figure to have Johnston play an integral role in their offense this season. 

With Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, and Joshua Palmer already in place as central options for starting quarterback Justin Herbert, Johnston, a big receiver (6-4) with exciting playmaking abilities, will be counted on as a fourth receiving option for the Chargers. 

With the Chargers being top-heavy at the wide receiver spot, Davis is just trying to make the ballclub. He helped his chances with his stunning punt return. With his best bet of making the team with the special teams unit, Davis got everyone’s attention with his runback for a score. 

 For a while, it appeared that Davis would upstage his college buddy. But Johnston found his way into the endzone after slicing into between defenders. The Stick-to-Johnston connection gave the Chargers a two touchdown margin at the point in the game.  

“It was huge, obviously for that point in the game that we were at, where the score was at,” said Stick. “We talked about winning the middle eight and getting a chance to get points and then come out and give the defense a chance to get a stop. So it was huge. It was awesome for Q [WR Quentin Johnson] to get one and to get in the end zone. Hopefully that’s huge for his confidence because he can be a really good player in this league and in this offense. It was a lot of fun.”

Featured Image Caption: Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Derius Davis (12) makes a good impression against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFL preseason game played at SoFi Stadium on August 12, 2023. Photo by Mark Hammond/News4usonline