Playing in new SoFi Stadium should spark Chargers, says experienced Linval Joseph

Most of the Chargers will experience something once-in-a-lifetime this season when they play at SoFi Stadium.

For Linval Joseph, it instead will be third-time-in-barely-a-decade.

Joseph was a member of the New York Giants when they moved into New Meadowlands Stadium in 2010 and the Minnesota Vikings when they moved into U.S. Bank Stadium six years later.

The Chargers and Rams will share SoFi Stadium beginning next month, with the Chargers set to make their debut in the $5-billion facility Thursday with a scrimmage.

“When you have a new stadium … you want to protect it,� Joseph said. “You want to make sure it’s your home. You want to instill in all the guys, ‘We gotta win at home. We got to start off right.’ It’s like another urge to get the job done.�

Rams

SoFi Stadium will open without fans at Rams and Chargers games

SoFi Stadium will open without fans at Rams and Chargers games because of the pandemic.

Aug. 25, 2020

After relocating to Los Angeles in 2017, the Chargers played three seasons at what is now called Dignity Health Sports Park. They lost their first three and final three games there, finishing 12-12 overall.

Now, they’re readying to upgrade into a venue coach Anthony Lynn called “the best place to play football in the world.�

“I’m excited to get there,� Joseph said. “See it, feel it and hopefully make some magic this year.�

The Chargers signed Joseph as a free agent in March, bringing in the veteran defensive tackle with hopes he can provide pressure up the middle to aid pass-rushing ends Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram.

Joseph has 24 sacks and 525 tackles in a career that includes two Pro Bowl appearances. He also won a Super Bowl with the 2011 Giants.

At 6 feet 4, 329 pounds, Joseph began making an impression on his new teammates the moment he walked through the door of the Chargers’ training facility in Costa Mesa.

He did this by simply filling that doorway.

Safety Rayshawn Jenkins said Joseph is built “like a mobile home.� Cornerback Casey Hayward called him “a truck.� Left tackle Sam Tevi likened Joseph to “a walking refrigerator� and “a running Coke machine.�

1/21

A rendering of the plans to develop the site at the former Hollywood Park in Inglewood as a sports, retail and entertainment venue that will include an NFL stadium.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

2/21

An aerial view of the Inglewood site where the Hollywood Park Land Company is building a sports, retail and entertainment venue that includes an NFL stadium.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

3/21

Pools of rainwater reflect the morning clouds while a plane ande a flock of birds fly over the future home of the Rams at the old Hollywood Park racetrack in Inglewood on Jan. 13.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

4/21

The Hollywood Park Casino stands on the grounds of the former Hollywood Park racetrack in Inglewood on Jan. 13.  (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

5/21

Work continues on the site of the former Hollywood Park racetrack in Inglewood on Jan. 13.

  (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)

6/21

Piles of broken concrete from the old grandstands await the crusher at the future home of the Rams at the old Hollywood Park racetrack in Inglewood on Jan. 13.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

7/21

Chris Meany, development manager for the Hollywood Park Land Company, explains the plans to develop the 298-acre site at the former Hollywood Park in Inglewood.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

8/21

A yellow pipe marks the spot where the 50-yard line will be at the NFL stadium being constructed at the former Hollywood Park site in Inglewood.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

9/21

Temporary water and a network of sewer lines are in place at the former Hollywood Park site in Inglewood where an NFL stadium and event center will eventually be constructed.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

10/21

Giant machines called “scrapers� are moving the dirt and changing the landscape of the former Hollywood Park site in Inglewood where an NFL stadium will eventually be constructed.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

11/21

Chris Meany, Development Manager for the Hollywood Park Land Company, explains the plans to develop the site of the former Hollywood Park in Inglewood.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

12/21

The grandstands and casino building at the former Hollywood Park in Inglewood are framed by a giant hill of crushed concrete where an NFL stadium will eventually be constructed.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

13/21

Chris Meany, Development Manager for the Hollywood Park Land Company, explains the plans to develop the 298-acre site at the former Hollywood Park in Inglewood.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

14/21

A yellow pipe marks the spot where the 50-yard line will be at the NFL stadium being constructed at the former Hollywood Park site in Inglewood.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

15/21

Giant concrete sewer pipes await use at the site of the former Hollywood Park site in Inglewood where an NFL stadium will eventually be constructed.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

16/21

Giant machines called “scrapers� are moving the dirt and changing the landscape of the former Hollywood Park site in Inglewood where an NFL stadium will eventually be constructed.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

17/21

Trees that have been rescued from the former Hollywood Park site are saved and being preserved for future use at the future NFL stadium site in Inglewood.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

18/21

Giant sewer pipes are stacked and ready at the site of the former Hollywood Park site in Inglewood where an NFL stadium, event center, homes and hotels will eventually be constructed.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

19/21

Chunks of concrete will eventually be crushed and later used as roadbed at the former Hollywood Park site in Inglewood where an NFL stadium will eventually be constructed.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

20/21

INGLEWOOD,CA., DECEMBER 18, 2015: Giant concrete pipes frame the site of the former Hollywood Park in Inglewood where an NFL stadium will eventually be constructed December 20, 2015 (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times ).

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

21/21

An airplane making its final approach to LAX flies over a hill of crushed concrete at the former Hollywood Park site in Inglewood where an NFL stadium will eventually be constructed.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

“He’s literally like a house in there,� Jenkins said. “You have to throw it over a house, if you’re the quarterback. We’re going to get a lot of batted balls and altered throws with him in there.�

Along with Joseph’s size, the Chargers have been taken by his power, Bosa calling Joseph “probably the strongest human I’ve come across.�

In high school, he was a champion weightlifter and has been known to bench press 500 pounds.

“I have a combination of a lot of things,� Joseph said. “But as everybody’s saying, it’s my power, my quick twitch.�

At 31, he is the oldest player on a defense that mixes experience with youth and features depth throughout.

The defense is expected to be the backbone of a team transitioning to a new offensive scheme after being built around quarterback Philip Rivers the last 14 years.

“We have some home-run hitters …� Joseph said. “Once they put everything together, it’s going to be scary. I’d say it that way. It will be scary if everything’s put together right.�

Taylor made

Among the many ways the Chargers offense will look different this season is the fact the quarterback won’t be as animated.

Rivers was known for his rather demonstrative leadership, often sprinting downfield to argue with an official or correct a teammate.

Tyrod Taylor is not nearly that obvious, but Lynn said his softer nature shouldn’t be mistaken for a lack of leadership.

Chargers

Shoulder injury could make Chargers receiver Mike Williams miss opener

Chargers receiver Mike Williams could miss the season opener because of a shoulder injury suffered trying to make a diving catch without pads on Sunday.

Aug. 24, 2020

“He’s a man that doesn’t say a whole lot,� Lynn explained. “But people respect the heck out of him because of what he does. If you just watch him, he leads by example. I think that’s very powerful.�

Veteran tight end Virgil Green said Taylor’s commitment is clear in how hard he works, often doing thingssuch as running extra sprints after practice.

“A lot of quarterbacks you don’t see them busting it in the weight room,� Green said. “But Tyrod is that guy … I believe in what I can do in the weight room, but I don’t want to get involved with Tyrod and his core workout.�

Etc.

Cornerback Chris Harris Jr. returned to practice Tuesday after missing several days because of an unspecified leg injury. … The Chargers will be limited to a walk-through Wednesday in advance of their scrimmage, which is set to begin at 1 p.m. Thursday.