SAN DIEGO (AP) - Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman had his knee examined Wednesday in Alabama after lingering soreness kept him out of practice for more than a week.
NFL training camps
Camp News
- Rams star ends holdout, will report
- Merriman gets sore knee examined
- Anderson among banged-up Browns
- Boldin asks Cardinals to trade him
- Ravens will start Smith again
- Bills QB sits out after collision
- Hasselbeck out again with stiff back
- Broncos' Pro Bowl C to have surgery
- Injury bug bites Chiefs LB in hand
- Falcons cut 4-time Pro Bowler Horn
- Eagles' top WR out indefinitely
- Manning's 'goal' is Week 1 return
- Cincy brings back troubled WR
- Get latest training camp buzz
Camp tours
- Browns: Braylon is no bust
- Panthers: Is John Fox on hot seat?
- Marvez: Packers | Cowboys | Chargers
- Czar: Falcons | Eagles | Redskins
Analysis
- Hench: Parcells is Cheney, not Quayle
- Marvez: Ocho Cinco gets his wish?
- Whitlock: NFL Truths are back
Video
- Glazer: Scoop on the Raiders
- Blog: Darren McFadden's rookie report
- Previews: DAL | GB | KC | MIN | SD
- Training Camp Video Central
Photos
Since it costs too much to drive to each team's campsite, let us take you there for free with new snapshots added daily.
- First Lady of the NFL
- Rams, Titans brawl at practice
- Snapshots from training camp
Merriman underwent surgery to repair cartilage damage five months ago but has had persistent pain in the knee during training camp. He traveled to Birmingham to have the knee looked at by Dr. James Andrews, the surgeon who performed the operation.
"I think he wants to make sure he gets it checked out and make sure everything is all right with it," San Diego coach Norv Turner said after Wednesday's practice. "When he's been able to practice and move around, he's looked awfully good to me."
Merriman hasn't practiced this week and didn't play in a preseason loss Saturday to the St. Louis Rams. He missed three consecutive practices last week because of the sore knee and an illness he described as strep throat and fever.
Turner didn't express significant concern and he's hoping Merriman will be healthy by Sept. 7 when the Chargers open the regular season against the Carolina Panthers.
"I think we have a number of guys that are in that category who have some soreness, and my concern will be if it lingers," Turner said. "Hopefully, it won't linger and hopefully in the next week to 10 days, he's going to be all right and ready to get going."
Pro Bowl tight end Antonio Gates didn't practice Wednesday, one day after passing a physical and being taken off the physically unable to perform list. Gates had surgery six months ago to repair a tear in the plantar plate of his left foot.
"Obviously, this injury is one of those things you have to kind of handle daily," Gates said. "I continue to monitor it because ideally I want to be at full strength come the opener."
Play FOX Fantasy Football Today >
