SAN DIEGO — Chargers Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman said Saturday he has two torn ligaments in his left knee and has been told by doctors that he could suffer a possible career-ending injury if he attempts to play without having surgery.Merriman said he has tears in the posterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments. He said doctors agree he needs surgery to repair the damage.
A course of action has not been decided. Merriman, who will consult with a doctor in Miami early this week before making a decision, has been told reconstructive surgery would sideline him for the entire 2008 season. Another option is a less-invasive surgery that would allow him to play at some point in the season.
Footnotes.
Injured Texans receiver Harry Williams will have surgery today to repair a neck vertebra he fractured during a preseason game Friday night in Irving, Texas.
The 26-year-old Williams was hurt early in the Texans’ 23-22 loss to the host Cowboys when he collided with teammate Nick Ferguson while covering a kick return.
• Redskins defensive end Jason Taylor left the game with the Panthers with a sprained right knee.
Coach Jim Zorn indicated an initial X-ray showed no serious damage, but said Taylor would undergo an MRI today.
• Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora injured his left knee in the second quarter of the Giants’ preseason game against the Jets, but coach Tom Coughlin said that early indications are that he did not suffer ligament damage.
• Buccaneers linebacker Antoine Cash was carted off the field with a neck injury in a game against the Jaguars but had movement in his extremities.
• Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart entered the night with the lead over Kurt Warner in the competition for the starting job, but coach Ken Whisenhunt may have to rethink that after Leinart threw three interceptions in less than two quarters. The Associated Press
