SEATTLE -- San Diego lost standout linebacker Shawne Merriman and starting right guard Louis Vasquez to injuries early in Sunday's 27-20 loss to Seattle.
Merriman injured his left calf midway through the first quarter and was seen on the Chargers' bench with a wrap on his left leg. Merriman's backup, Larry English, was also inactive for Sunday's game with a foot injury, leaving the Chargers short-handed at the position. Brandon Siler, filling in for injured starting middle linebacker Stephen Cooper, filled in admirably with seven tackles, a sack and three tackles for loss.
Vasquez injured his left knee after getting caught in a pile late in the first quarter. He was taken off the field on a cart and never returned.
Afterward, Chargers coach Norm Turner was vague about the injuries.
"We'll give you those updates as we know," Turner said. "Obviously neither one of them could continue."
Seattle had a trio of injuries, although none are considered major. Linebacker Aaron Curry left in the second quarter with a hamstring injury, cornerback Marcus Trufant injured an ankle in the third quarter and defensive tackle Brandon Mebane had a calf muscle injury.
Wide receiver Mike Williams left briefly in the first half with a shoulder injury, but returned. Both Williams and Curry put on their Twitter accounts Sunday night that their injuries were not serious.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press