Merriman sits out 2 practices, says advance is OK

SAN DIEGO — Shawne Merriman isn't in top anatomy with beneath than three weeks to go afore the approved division — and he's not afraid about it.

The San Diego Chargers' brilliant alfresco linebacker is still alive his way aback from knee anaplasty that alone him afterwards the division opener in 2008.

Merriman didn't participate in either convenance Tuesday — the endure day of affected with two practices — but said there's annihilation to be abashed about. He spent allotment of the afternoon alive out in the basin and expects to be aback for Wednesday afternoon's practice.

Merriman said there are assertive things he's able to do bigger than afore the surgery, but added aspects of his bold aren't there yet.

Merriman said he'd rather not anticipate about what allotment he's at. He said he'll apperceive he's all the way aback if aggregate is additional nature.

"I'm still progressing," he said. "When I'll be 100 percent is if I feel like I'll be able to go out there and do aggregate after cerebration about it. Affair is, I'll go out there and do it, but I'm still cerebration about it. That's the thing. It's not whether I can do it or not. I can do it. You accept to self-consciously anticipate about things if you're not 100 percent."

Merriman got to Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner a few times in Saturday night's exhibition win but didn't get a sack.

"My access is there, axis the bend is there, but the timing and alive my accord amid area I'm at and the quarterback, that is still off appropriate now," he said. "Every anniversary I wish to be able to do something a little bit different."

He said he acquainted he had a appealing acceptable bold Saturday night. Merriman had 39 1/2 sacks his aboriginal three seasons, so the bar is set high, even in the exhibition season.

"Unless I go out there and get two or three sacks, it won't be abundant for anybody," Merriman said. "When I attending at the film, I'm searching at apparently something different. And point blank, I'm traveling to be me at the end of the day. I can acquisition the brawl blindfolded and that's just how it is."

Coach Norv Turner said he's annoyed with Merriman's progress.

"If there's such a affair as getting on schedule, he's on schedule," Turner said. "I consistently go by talking to him and searching in his eye and all that, and he's aflame area he's at.

"I was absolutely afflicted with what he did in the game, with his movement, putting his bottom in the arena and alteration direction," Turner said. "He's just got some things to plan through."

NOTES: QB Philip Rivers appeared to accept his appropriate abate taped but said it was nothing. Rivers active a six-year arrangement addendum Monday account $93 million, with $38 actor guaranteed. ... TE Antonio Gates sat out the afternoon because of accepted anguish but said he's fine.