The Chargers will no longer wait for Shawne Merriman to get healthy.

The team placed him on injured reserve on Wednesday with a calf injury. They did so with a “minor-injury designation,” which means its less than a six-week injury. When Merriman is healthy, the team has to release him.

This will surely end Merriman’s tumultuous six-year run in San Diego. He was the AP defensive rookie of the year in 2005, and a first-team All Pro in 2006. Merriman has never truly rebounded from reconstructive surgery in 2008.

At the time, there was some concern Merriman’s career could be over. He returned in 2009, but hasn’t looked like the same guy he used to be. Merriman only has five tackles in three games this season. He’s struggled to stay healthy after missing much of training camp for a misguided holdout.

Merriman will find work again, but he’s not close to getting a big contract until he proves he can be healthy and productive again.