Lost in all of the LaDainian Tomlinson turmoil in San Diego is Shawne Merriman and his rehabilitation from his knee injury. The loss of Merriman had a huge impact on the Chargers’ defense, which registered 42 sacks in 2007 but only 28 in 2008.

Casey Pearce of Chargers.com caught up with coach Norv Turner, who gave this update on Merriman’s rehab:

“Shawne is making great progress. He’s in another stage of the rehab now where he’s in here on a regular basis lifting. He’s in the training room on a regular basis. He’s where we’d like him to be at this point. It’s very similar to where Philip (Rivers) was last year at this point with the exception of the fact that Shawne plays a different position. What he’s going to be asked to do is different than what the quarterback is asked to do.

“Shawne is further along from a time standpoint because Philip had his in February after the season and Shawne’s surgery was done in September. He’s in a similar mode in that he’s working hard to get to the point where when we get going in our offseason program and are out there in the field, he’s strong enough and far enough along in the rehab that he can go out with our athletic trainers and start having activity on the field.”

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