Linebacker Shawne Merriman will be back at Chargers Park today after seeing a specialist yesterday in Coral Gables, Fla.

Missed tackles raise red flag for Chargers

He is expected to decide what to do regarding his knee by the end of the week. The Chargers have to reduce their roster to the opening-day limit of 53 by 3 p.m. Saturday.

According to a source with knowledge of the situation, Merriman was not told anything different in South Florida from what he'd heard from previous orthopedists regarding his injuries or the prognosis. The recommendation from all the doctors has been that his best course of action would be to have surgery immediately to repair his torn PCL and LCL. That would force him to sit out the season.

The doctors Merriman has seen agree he can play in his current state, but they have advised him that he likely will not be able to play at the level to which he is accustomed.

Merriman, a Pro Bowler in each of his three NFL seasons, still wants to play.

Over the weekend, Merriman said that while he has to consider his future, his decision on whether to have surgery has nothing to do with whether the Chargers plan to keep him beyond 2009, when his contract is due to expire.

“I want to play, regardless of all that,” he said before leaving for the Miami area. “I have teammates, I have friends in that locker room. I care about them. We're going to win a couple Super Bowls here.”

Rivers gives confidence

Quarterback Philip Rivers has performed well in practice all summer, showing his knee is stable and strong. But going three quarters in a game (even an exhibition) was a sort of milestone for Rivers, seven months removed from surgery to replace his ACL.

Rivers, who iced his knee after leaving the game as he does after many practices, showed the same poise in the pocket he did at the end of last season, buying time to make plays and moving well.

“I was excited and very pleased about the way Philip moved around,” coach Norv Turner said. “That's the biggest test we had when you're coming off the type of surgery Philip had – can you still move with that naturalness and fluidness and be your old self sitting in the pocket and throwing.”

L.J. to the rescue?

Left tackle Marcus McNeill (stinger) is not ready to play in Friday's exhibition finale at San Francisco, meaning he will not play at all this preseason. And Turner is not ready to guarantee McNeill will be ready for the season opener.

The Chargers are a little more prepared for such a circumstance because of the acquisition and ascension of L.J. Shelton. Signed in April after he was released in February by Miami, the nine-year veteran played extremely well against Seahawks defensive end Lawrence Jackson on Monday.

“He had his best game against a very good football player,” Turner said. “I was really impressed with the way he performed.”

Nuts 'n' Bolts

Said Turner of a group that came out Monday pumped and productive in helping clear the way for Darren Sproles to gain 102 yards on 13 carries: “I thought that's the best we've played in the preseason in the last two years on the offensive line.”

Antonio Gates (toe) will not play Friday. Turner would like Vincent Jackson (hamstring) and Jamal Williams (knees) to play. Said Turner: “There are certain guys we need to protect, and there are certain guys we need to get ready to play in the opener.” No starters will play more than a few series.

Turner said linebacker Jyles Tucker could have returned to Monday night's game if it were the regular season. Tucker suffered an ankle bruise in the third quarter.

---

Kevin Acee: (619) 293-1857; kevin.acee@uniontrib.com