by Jay Glazer

San Diego's three-time Pro Bowl linebacker has elected to have season-ending surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left knee. Several Chargers players and general manager A.J. Smith have said that the Pro Bowler has informed them of the decision.

"Shawne informed me he did not feel right and thought it best to shut it down," Smith said in a statement. "The road to winning the AFC West just got more difficult, but not impossible. Nothing is impossible. Shawne is a great player and an inspirational leader. He will be missed. We wish him a successful surgery and a speedy recovery."

Several calls left for Merriman have not yet been returned.

Merriman reportedly had been told by four different doctors that reconstructive surgery would be needed. Instead, the fourth-year All-Pro opted to play in Sunday's opener against the Panthers in order to test the knee, saying beforehand, "If you give a football player a decision to play, you know, I'm going to play."

However, he also acknowledged, "I'll have the surgery at any point. Nobody knows. I kind of left it on the table when to have it. Not even doctors can tell me that."

Immediately after Sunday's game, Merriman told FOXSports.com that the knee was pretty sore, but otherwise felt OK. He gave no indication at that time that he would elect to go this route.

But apparently, the knee did not pass Merriman's test.

Rehab is expected to be six to seven months.

Merriman has said he's had pain in the knee since late in the 2006 season. He also injured the knee during a game at Tennessee on Dec. 9. He sat out the following Sunday, but played in the last three regular-season games and the Chargers' three playoff games, including a loss to New England in the AFC championship game. He also played in the Pro Bowl.

Merriman had offseason arthroscopic surgery to repair torn cartilage in the knee.

Second-year pro Jyles Tucker is expected to take Merriman's spot. Tucker, who has played in only seven regular-season games, received a five-year contract extension two days before Merriman announced he was going to play rather than have surgery.

Merriman was suspended for four games in 2006 after testing positive for steroids. Both he and his lawyer blamed it on a tainted supplement. The Chargers went 4-0 in his absence.

The Merriman news comes one day after the announcement that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's season is over after he was injured in a Week 1 game against the Chiefs.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.