Chargers’ Merriman says he has ligament damage

San Diego Chargers Coach Norv Turner isn’t trying to rush Shawne Merriman back from a nagging knee injury. The main goal, Turner said, is to have his star linebacker healthy for the playoffs -- not the season opener next month.

Merriman felt pain in his knee after playing in the Chargers’ exhibition opener Aug. 9. On Thursday, Merriman confirmed he had a torn posterior cruciate ligament. He has visited noted sports surgeon James Andrews and may see two other doctors to weigh his options.

If the ligament is severely torn, he’ll undergo season-ending knee surgery. If the tear isn’t significant, Merriman could play through the pain and be ready for the season opener against the Carolina Panthers on Sept. 7.

San Francisco 49ers Coach Mike Nolan announced that J.T. O’Sullivan would start at quarterback when the regular season begins next month.

The Detroit Lions have signed quarterback Drew Henson. Terms of the signing, announced on the team’s website, were not disclosed.

Henson was signed after second-year quarterback Drew Stanton sprained the thumb on his throwing hand during practice Thursday.

Matt Ryan, making his first exhibition start, opened the second half with a touchdown pass to give Atlanta the lead and the Falcons beat the Tennessee Titans, 17-3, at Atlanta. . . . Tony Romo completed 15 of 19 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown in the Cowboys’ 23-22 win over the Houston Texans at Dallas.

The Philadelphia Eagles returned two kicks for touchdowns in the last 1:35 of the first half en route to a 27-17 victory over the New England Patriots at Foxborough, Mass. . . . Aaron Rodgers completed 18 of 22 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown in the Green Bay Packers’ 27-24 win over the Broncos at Denver.

TENNIS

Wozniacki, Fish advance to final

Caroline Wozniacki kept up the best month of her career, moving into the final of the Pilot Pen at New Haven, Conn., with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over seventh-seeded Alize Cornet.

The 18-year-old began August by getting her first WTA Tour win in Stockholm, then reached the third round at the Olympics, where she lost to eventual gold medalist Elena Dementieva.

Wozniacki will play top-seeded Anna Chakvetadze, who defeated Amelie Mauresmo, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.

In the men’s draw, eighth-seeded Mardy Fish upset top-seeded Fernando Verdasco, 6-0, 1-6, 6-3, to advance to the final. He will play sixth-seeded Marin Cilic, who defeated Luka Gregorc, 6-3, 6-3.

MOTOR RACING

Edwards wins the pole at Bristol

Carl Edwards won his first pole position of the season, turning a lap at 121.860 mph in qualifying for tonight’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Sharpie 500 at Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee.

“That’s as fast as I could go,” he said. “The pole is huge for us. This track, obviously track position, pit stall selection, those things are really important.”

David Reutimann put his Toyota on the outside of Edwards’ Ford on the front row, turning a lap at 121.175 mph.

Brad Keselowski passed Clint Bowyer with 24 laps to go and pulled away in his Chevrolet for his second victory of the season in NASCAR’s Nationwide Series, capping a remarkable run from the 37th starting position at Bristol Motor Speedway.

Bowyer had dominated the race after slipping by Dario Franchitti for the lead on Lap 107, but appeared to wiggle exiting the second turn on the 227th lap as Keselowski went past him.

PRO BASKETBALL

Celtics sign Miles, Walker

The Boston Celtics signed forward Darius Miles, who sat out the last two NBA seasons because of knee injuries. Miles played for Portland in the 2005-2006 season.

The Trail Blazers waived the former Clipper after it was determined his right knee was damaged enough to qualify as a career-ending injury.

The Celtics also signed second-round draft pick Bill Walker. They obtained the rights to the 6-foot-6 forward from Kansas State for cash after he was chosen with the 47th pick by Washington.

The San Antonio Spurs re-signed guard Michael Finley. Terms of the deal were not released. A two-time All-Star, he was first signed by the Spurs in September 2005.

MISCELLANY

Marion Jones switches prisons

Marion Jones has been moved from a federal prison in Fort Worth and will serve the remainder of her sentence in San Antonio.

The former U.S. Olympic track star was sentenced to six months in prison in January for lying to federal agents about her use of performance-enhancing drugs and a check-fraud scam.

Ryan Sheckler dominated on the first AST Dew Tour street-inspired course and won the skateboard park event at the Wendy’s Invitational in Portland, Ore.