Chargers Rumors: 2-Time Pro Bowl Defensive Lineman Linked to LA as Free Agent Signing

Through the first two weeks of the NFL season, we have seen a similar pattern play out for the Los Angeles Chargers. The offense looks very good and is capable of winning games, but the defense has struggled to play its part.

To their credit, they did look better last weekend against the Tennessee Titans, but the Bolts still dropped the game. The defense does need to become more consistent if they want any chance of reaching their ultimate goal of winning the Super Bowl.

One way for the Chargers to help the defense could be to bring in another piece to the puzzle. They do need some help on the interior defensive line, which could help open things up for their edge rushers.

The NFL staff at Bleacher Report put together a list of the biggest weaknesses for each team in the league and offered a suggestion of a free-agent player that could help. For the Bolts, they linked them with an old friend in defensive tackle Linval Joseph.

“It might be time for the Chargers to give a call to a familiar face. Linval Joseph spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons with the Chargers before signing with the Philadelphia Eagles last year and starting eight games. The Chargers' defensive front could use another run-stuffer on the interior. Joseph is 34, but he proved last season he can still be a contributor on a good defense.”

Per Bleacher Report NFL Staff

Joseph could help with the depth of the Chargers defensive line and give them another veteran in the lineup. In eight games last season, he produced 20 tackles and was a presence for the Philadelphia defense. If anything, he gives them another body to use, and they can use all the help they can get.

LA needs to be able to get pressure on the quarterback, and the best way to do that is to have good options in the middle. They force teams to stop running the ball and go more toward a one-dimensional approach to the game. Joseph is good at stopping the run, which would give the Bolts help in dealing with a true weakness.

It remains to be seen if the Chargers will improve the roster at all, but something needs to change. They sit at 0-2 on the season, and if things don’t change soon, there will be ramifications coming down the line.