Chargers linebacker Shawne Merriman hasn’t had a good off-season.

Merriman had his Mercedes torched in March, he had to shoot down rumors of a suspension in April and he had strep throat and a fever at the start of the preseason.

And now he’s suffering from what is described as “persistent knee pain,” and he needs to see Dr. James Andrews about it.

The North County Times reports that Merriman missed two more practices Tuesday as he traveled to Andrews’ offices in Alabama, and isn’t expected back to Chargers Park until Thursday. Andrews repaired cartilage damage in Merriman’s left knee five months ago, and the Chargers are describing this as a “follow-up exam.”

In other Chargers injury news, tight end Antonio Gates was taken off the Physically Unable to Perform list and participated in practice. Defensive end Luis Castillo is still hurting with a back injury, but he got his most extensive work in two weeks and says he’d be playing if this were the regular season.