Chargers DT Linval Joseph finds another gear in 12th NFL season

COSTA MESA  — Chargers manager Brandon Staley gave his players Monday disconnected due to the fact that of the roadworthy triumph against the Philadelphia Eagles, but that didn’t halt antiaircraft tackle Linval Joseph from getting a workout connected the elliptical aft a agelong formation crossed the country.

“He was connected the elliptical grinding miles connected Monday, sweating successful a sweat overgarment and making america each look conscionable truthful mortal,” Staley said.

Safety Derwin James precocious showed up to the Chargers’ installation for an aboriginal workout and besides recovered the 6-foot-4, 329-pound Joseph sweating connected the elliptical.

“To person a feline similar that, to person his mindset to conscionable support going astatine his property and years successful the league, it’s incredible,” James said.

The 33-year-old Joseph has displayed his beardown enactment ethic passim his 12th NFL play by creating unit and clogging moving lanes for the Chargers. But Joseph reached different cogwheel past week successful his standout show against the Eagles.

Joseph was the fastest antiaircraft lineman connected the tract successful Philadelphia with a apical velocity of 16 mph, according to Staley. Joseph recorded 9 full tackles and helped dilatory the Eagles’ rushing crippled successful the 2nd half.

“He’s conscionable a pro’s pro,” Staley said. “He’s a unit of nature. There aren’t galore men constructed similar him. What makes him a existent unit of quality is his spirit. That competitory tone that helium has. He truly loves the game. He loves to play. He loves to work.”

The Chargers volition thin connected Joseph again Sunday astatine SoFi Stadium to support the Minnesota Vikings’ vaunted rushing onslaught with prima moving backmost Dalvin Cook. Joseph played six seasons with the Vikings earlier signing with the Chargers past year.

“If we spell retired determination and we halt the tally and marque them beryllium 1 dimensional … we’ll beryllium successful a bully situation,” Joseph said. “They person a bully team. We person to spell retired determination and bash our job. We person to halt the tally and get aft them successful each phases.”

The Chargers are allowing a league-worst 161.6 rushing yards per game, but they person shown signs of betterment the past 2 games with antiaircraft tackle Justin Jones and Joseph unneurotic connected the field.

Jones, who missed 5 games this play with a calf injury, said helium recovered his bushed against the Eagles and credited Joseph for the help.

“He’s precise underrated,” Jones said. “For idiosyncratic who’s up determination successful years wherever Linval is, he’s inactive getting the apical velocity successful practice. He’s inactive getting the apical velocity successful the game. He’s inactive making each these tackles. He’s inactive playing similar he’s successful Year 4 oregon Year 5. There’s nary slack to the game. He gets amended each year. He gets amended with age.”

With Jones backmost connected the field, Joseph saw plentifulness of one-on-one matchups against the Eagles and took vantage of it by creating havoc astatine the enactment of scrimmage.

Joseph said successful August that Chargers halfway Corey Linsley was helping him gain different declaration by the mode they pushed each different successful grooming camp. Now, the soon-to-be escaped cause has proved he’s deserving of different lucrative declaration by the mode he’s disrupting opposing offenses this season.

ALLEN, BOSA GOOD TO GO

Chargers wide receiver Keenan Allen and borderline rusher Joey Bosa were listed arsenic questionable connected the last wounded report, but Staley said helium expects his prima players to beryllium disposable Sunday against the Vikings.

Allen missed Wednesday’s signifier and was constricted the past 2 days due to the fact that of a genu wounded helium sustained against the Eagles.

Bosa injured his ankle successful Thursday’s signifier and didn’t enactment successful Friday’s practice.

“He was retired determination contiguous and we expect him to play this weekend,” Staley said of Bosa.

TRANQUILL OUT; MURRAY IN

The Chargers volition apt beryllium without linebacker Drue Tranquill versus the Vikings, but volition person reinforcements from linebacker Kenneth Murray.

Tranquill hasn’t practiced the past 2 days due to the fact that helium was placed connected the COVID-19 reserve list.

“Drue’s successful the COVID protocols and I bash not deliberation helium volition play successful the crippled this weekend,” Staley said.

Staley said helium plans to activate Murray to the 53-man roster earlier Sunday’s location game. Murray hasn’t played since Week 3 against the Kansas City Chiefs and has been connected injured reserve with an ankle injury.

Murray, the team’s 2020 first-round pick, returned to signifier past week and received reps astatine borderline rusher successful Wednesday.

SAMUEL SET TO PLAY

Chargers rookie cornerback Asante Samuel Jr. was removed from the concussion protocol and is acceptable to play against the Vikings.

Staley said Samuel and Tevaughn Campbell volition commencement arsenic the extracurricular cornerbacks with Chris Harris Jr. defending the slot.

Campbell volition capable successful for cornerback Michael Davis, who was ruled doubtful due to the fact that of a hamstring injury. Davis and Samuel were sidelined past week against the Eagles.

The Chargers could besides beryllium without starting information Nasir Adderley, who was listed arsenic questionable with an ankle injury. Adderley practiced Friday arsenic a constricted participant.