ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that San Diego Chargers restricted free agent linebacker Shawne Merriman is expected to sign his tender and report to the team this weekend.

Merriman responded to Schefter's report via Twitter: "All reports of me reporting to camp this weekend would come from the team 'San Diego Chargers' not 'sources'", Merriman wrote.

Merriman was tendered at the "First- and Third-Round" level, which carries a base salary of $3.269 million for the 2010 season.

A dominant force his first three seasons in the NFL, Merriman posted 187 tackles and 39.5 quarterback sacks between 2005-07, despite being suspended for the first four games of the 2006 season for violating the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy.

Merriman was the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2005, and is a three-time Pro Bowlers, but a knee injury has limited Merriman to just 15 games over the last seasons, where he's totaled just 38 tackles and four quarterback sacks.

The former first-round pick out of Maryland changed agents this off-season, and is seeking a long-term commitment from the Chargers, which the club has been reluctant to do. Part of that may be due to Merriman's serious knee injury, and possibly Merriman's well-publicized legal issue with a former reality-television star girlfriend.