SAN DIEGO - Are the Chargers being coy with the extent of their injuries from Sunday's overtime win against the Titans? Pro Bowl linebacker Shawne Merriman will miss at least Sunday's game against the Lions with a knee sprain.

"We will know more as the week goes on how long he will be out," coach Norv Turner said. "It could be -- I'm not going to speculate, but it could be a few weeks, a couple of weeks."

Turner said quarterback Philip Rivers was questionable for the Lions game with a knee sprain.

When pressed for specifics on the severity of the sprains and which ligaments were compromised, Turner referred inquirers to the team's publicist.

"We will get you the details," Turner said. "I don't want to act like I know what I'm talking about. Obviously, Shawne's more (serious) than Philip's is. … Philip is walking around."

Team spokesman Bill Johnson declined to elaborate, delivering a somewhat generic labeling of injuries to seven players.

When general manager A.J. Smith was reached for comment, he hung up on a reporter.

Merriman, in an e-mail, said his injury is similar to the one suffered earlier this season by Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. Peterson tore his lateral collateral ligament and missed two games. His injury was considered moderate.

Rivers wore a tight sleeve and a brace on his ailing left knee as he spoke with reporters Monday.

When asked about his prognosis, Rivers wasn't clear.

"I'll leave that up to the coach and the trainer as far as giving you the information," he said. "I don't try to get caught up in all the scientific words that are used. It's pretty sore this morning."

Does Rivers expect to play Sunday?

"I do, I certainly do," he said. "We'll see how it goes during the week, but I expect to. You're always sore on Monday and Tuesday (more) than you are on Sunday. Obviously it is early, but I have every plan to (play)."

Fullback Lorenzo Neal broke his leg Sunday and underwent an operation to insert a plate into it. The Pro Bowler will miss the rest of the regular season.

Along with Rivers, others listed as questionable for Sunday are defensive tackle Jamal Williams (ankle) and right guard Mike Goff (foot).

"We will see as the week goes on and how they progress," Turner said. "I don't think we will have a true feeling on that up until Friday."

Added Rivers: "You hate to see anyone get banged up, and we got a handful of guys banged up in key spots. I think some of it is expected late in the year, and you have to be able to fight through some of these things.

"Guys need to step up where needed and fill the role. Guys have done a great job of that thus far, and we have to continue to do it and just hope you can get through these three and win and get everybody as healthy as you can heading into January."

After the Chargers' roared back for their third straight win by overcoming a 14-point, fourth-quarter deficit, there were accusations about dirty play from both sides.

Some Chargers took exception with the hit that knocked Merriman from the game, and the one that briefly sidelined Rivers.

Rivers said defensive end Antwan Odom, who rolled into Rivers' leg, wasn't at fault.

Rivers did raise his eyebrows over Merriman getting smacked after the play - no penalty was called.

"I know just from watching it was late," Rivers said. "LenDale White has been tackled.

"Late hits happen that result in nobody being injured, but when a guy does get injured you start to wonder what happened?"

There was no mystery that the game was rugged on both sides.

"It was as physical as a game that I have been involved in," Rivers said.

"There's always plays you look at that are going to be iffy in any game. I just hate a couple of them that looked iffy resulted in some injuries. You hope it wasn't anything intentional."

LaDainian Tomlinson, who won the game with his 16-yard touchdown run, said the game was a hard-fought, not necessarily dirty.

"I don't know what you classify 'dirty' as," he said. "I don't know. I think it was a competitive game. I think sometimes throughout a competitive game things happen. Guys go to extra distance to make a play, make things happen."

Et cetera

Coach Norv Turner said he'll send in a series of plays, including the one in which Shawne Merriman was injured on Sunday, to the league office for clarification. … QB Philip Rivers and RB LaDainian Tomlinson chuckled at the perceived rift between the two. CBS cameras on Sunday showed Tomlinson abruptly getting off the bench just when Rivers sat down. "I don't see any need to comment on it," Rivers said. "I have seen the clip and I still think nothing of it. Hey, when things are going good they want to find something that is going bad, and things have been going good here for awhile." … P Mike Scifres has bruised ribs; TE Antonio Gates a sore back. … DE Luis Castillo (ankle) is out at least another week. … Rookie WR Craig Davis drew praise from Turner for his work Sunday on punt returns. That role could be open to competition when Darren Sproles (knee) returns. It's possible Sproles will miss another week.

- Contact staff writer Jay Paris at jparis8@aol.com.