TOTAL knee reconstruction? I’m willing to bet he doesn’t ever play another down

Sources: Merriman to undergo surgery, to be placed on injured reserve

By Chris Mortensen
ESPN.com
(Archive)

Updated: September 9, 2008, 6:59 PM ET

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San Diego Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman’s season is over after trying to play the season opener Sunday with two torn knee ligaments.
Sources told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen Tuesday the Chargers will announce shortly that Merriman is being placed on injured reserve to undergo total reconstructive knee surgery that will include the repair of his lateral collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments. The knee problem dates back to the end of the 2007 season. Merriman has tears in both the posterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments in his left knee, which he hurt in a game at Tennessee in December. After seeking outside opinions, four doctors told Merriman he needed surgery, but there “just wasn’t a time frame on that. My knee still looks pretty good. The decision was left up to me to play. If you give a football player a decision to play, you know, I’m going to play.” Before the season started, Merriman decided to play rather than have his damaged left knee repaired. “To be as simple as possible, I just want to play football,” Merriman said previously. “That’s what it comes down to. I know what’s on the table, I know what’s on the line. I put a lot of work in this and I want to play.” He’ll likely be looking at a rehab of six to seven months. With his nonstop energy and spasmodic sack dance, the player known as “Lights Out” has been the face of the Chargers’ defense the past three seasons. He has 39½ sacks in that span, more than any other NFL player. He’s played in three straight Pro Bowls.