Merriman to make return

Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman appeared set to start Monday night when the AFC West champion San Diego Chargers host the Denver Broncos, after missing last week’s game with a sprained left knee.

“I’ve been doing pretty much everything the whole week,” Merriman said Saturday after practice. “I feel good, I’m moving around good and I’m expecting to play.”

Merriman rested the knee during last week’s win over the Lions, but said he was out of sorts watching instead of playing.

“It drove me nuts,” said Merriman, who leads the team with 11 1/2 sacks and was recently named to his third Pro Bowl. “I didn’t know what to do. But hopefully I won’t be sitting this week because I’ve been practicing all week.”

Merriman’s one concession to his injury will be a knee brace.

“Sometimes it hampers my change of direction and it prevents me from doing certain things,” he said, “but I’ll be good.”

Coles placed on IR

The New York Jets placed wide receiver Laveranues Coles on injured reserve because of an ankle injury that has bothered him for several weeks.

Coles, known throughout his eight-year career for his toughness and ability to play through pain, suffered a high left ankle sprain early in the Jets’ 19-16 overtime win against Pittsburgh on Nov. 18. Coles finished the season with 55 catches for 646 yards and six TDs.