SAN DIEGO (AP) - San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman, who has missed more than a week of practice because of a sore left knee, said Thursday night that he has a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and is evaluating his options.
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The trouble is "a loose ligament and (I'm) waiting to get more info on what I need to do," Merriman said in an e-mail to the North County Times.
Merriman underwent surgery to repair cartilage damage five months ago but has had persistent pain in the knee during training camp. He traveled this week to Birmingham, Ala., so the knee could be examined by Dr. James Andrews, who performed the operation.
Merriman last played in the Aug. 9 preseason opener against Dallas and has not practiced since then.
If the ligament is severely torn, he'll undergo season-ending knee surgery. If the tear isn't significant, Merriman could play through the pain and be ready for Week 1 against the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 7.
"If a guy has a setback and it keeps him out of it for a week or two ... I don't know that anyone will remember that any player missed a week of practice or was dealing with an issue," Turner said Friday after practice.
"I think he can be close to 100 percent and get back with some real good rehab work. He's been doing a great job with it and I think he just needs some more time right now."
San Diego would turn to Jyles Tucker if Merriman can't play, but Turner called that idea "way, way, way, way premature."
"We are going to do everything we can to create a situation where (Merriman) is not in pain and the leg gets some strength back," Turner said.
Merriman, who had offseason arthroscopic surgery on the same knee, was unavailable for comment Friday. Chargers general manager A. J. Smith did not immediately return a phone call.
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