The Chargers will begin what could be their final preseason as San Diego's NFL team Thursday night when they play host to the Dallas Cowboys at Qualcomm Stadium in what coach Mike McCoy calls "a great time for us to evaluate our players on our football team."
When asked if he would be excited to see running back Melvin Gordon, the Chargers first-round choice in the 2015 NFL draft, play for the team for the first time, McCoy responded, "I'm excited to see everybody on the football team, all 90 guys to see what we can do as a football team."
Two rule changes have been made affecting extra points. The extra point attempt will be snapped from the 15-yard line, 13 yards behind its previous spot. The defense will be able to return a blocked kick, interception or fumble on a conversion for two points.
The two-point conversion will remain at the two-yard line.
Fans will experience several changes at the concession stands with new items including:
- The Diego Burger, a hamburger topped with American cheese, fried chile relleno, lettuce, tomato, onions and pickle chips;
- the Cali Surf Burrito, a burrito with shrimp, beef, potato fries, cabbage, pico de gallo, guacamole, salsa, sour cream and cheese;
- Philly by the Foot, Philly sandwich up to 3 feet long;
- Chicken Buffalo Sandwich, chicken tenders with buffalo reaper sauce, bleu cheese and coleslaw;
- Loaded Skins, smash potatoes with cheese, bacon bits sour cream and chili;
- Breakfast Mary in a Cup, spicy bloody Michelada mix, bacon on a stick, celery, pickled egg and olives;
- Veggie Nacho – roasted corn, peppers, pico de gallo, cotija cheese.
Fans are encouraged to carpool or public transportation to get to Qualcomm Stadium for the 7 p.m. game.
The parking lot will open at 3 p.m. and is expected to fill early. Fans planning on riding the Trolley should plan to take early trains as cars could fill up in both directions to the stadium as early as 5:30 p.m.
The Chargers have been asking for a new stadium for nearly 15 years and have acquired land in Carson, in Los Angeles County, on which they could build a facility — perhaps in concert with the Oakland Raiders.
Former San Francisco 49ers executive Carmen Policy, who is working on the Carson project on behalf of the two franchises, said on Tuesday the teams are committed to the Los Angeles area. He said the proposed stadium could be shovel- ready when league owners give them permission, and it would be ready in time for the 2019 season.
At a news conference hours after Policy's remarks, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league has not given up on the home markets of the Chargers, Raiders or Rams — another team eyeing the lucrative Los Angeles market.
League Executive Vice President Eric Grubman said representatives of San Diego showed signs of "significant progress'' in a presentation to a group of owners Monday.
That same day, the city released a 6,000-page environmental impact report for a proposed stadium in Mission Valley, a financing proposal and renderings of a design concept.
The plan is to get the document approved by the City Council in October so the public can vote on a stadium measure in January.
Mark Fabiani, the Chargers' spokesman on stadium issues, objected to the faster timeline of the environmental report, which he says won't be legally defensible.
