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Running back LaDainian Tomlinson knew it was coming. If San Diego kept relying solely on the arm of quarterback Philip Rivers to get them into the end zone, there was going to be some awfully loud squawking going on in town. So he was thrilled Monday night to finally touch that painted blue grass at Qualcomm Stadium, running in for two scores in the Chargers’ 48-29 win against the Jets.

“I almost forgot what it felt like,” Tomlinson said with a grin. “It was like, ‘Jeez, the next thing is the media is going to start getting on us about no rushing touchdowns.’ … I was happy to get a rushing touchdown to keep you guys off our backs.”

LaDainian, who had never started a pro season with three straight games without a touchdown, jumped over the line for a 2-yard score in the third quarter to give the Chargers a 38-14 advantage, and he added another pounding 2-yard run to make it 45-23. Still hampered by an injured big toe on his right foot, Tomlinson ran for only a 2.6-yard average on the night — 67 yards on 26 carries — but he got the work done in the red zone after some nice setup efforts by backup Darren Sproles (38 yards on five carries).

“Today was going to be one of those physical running days,” Tomlinson said. “Making one cut and going straight ahead is not a problem for me.”

Brett Favre played really bad for the Jets Monday night and when that happens, things can get pretty ugly. When Favre is playing well, he can make magic. But throughout his career, he mixes in the clunkers every now and then and that’s the Favre the Jets got on Monday night game. He looked so aged and slow and had no synchronization with his receivers in the Jets’ 48-29 loss.

Favre had a hard time shaking San Diego’s pressure up front. His second interception was way beyond Jerricho Cotchery and the Chargers only had to move 45 yards to turn the game into an embarrassing 31-14 at the half.

When the Jets traded for this “Hall of Famer”, they knew what they were getting: A star quarterback who can make every throw, but who when things aren’t going well tries to win games by himself, and bad things can happen.

It’s not unexpected that the Jets are 1-2 after playing the Dolphins, Patriots and Chargers. And with the softer part of their schedule coming up in the next six weeks, including games against the winless Chiefs and Rams and 1-2 Raiders, Monday night’s loss should not take them to a panic mode.

Shawne Merriman, the Chargers linebacker, has ligament damage and is evaluating his options, including the possibility of undergoing season-ending reconstructive surgery. He has missed more than a week of practice because of the sore left knee

Merriman said in an e-mail to the North County Times on Thursday night that the trouble is “a loose ligament and (I’m) waiting to get more info on what I need to do”

Shawne said to the San Diego Union Tribune that he has a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Five months ago, San Diego’s linebacker had a surgery to repair a cartilage damage. Surgery went well but he has had persistent pain in the knee during training camp. He traveled this week to Birmingham, so his knee could be examined by Dr. James Andrews, who performed the operation.

The Union-Tribune reported that Shawne was in New York on Thursday to see another specialist and was considering seeing a third on Friday to determine when or if he would play this season.

Merriman last game was in August 9 preseason opener against Dallas and has not practiced since then.

“It’s finding out what do I need to fix, what I need to do,” The linebacker told the Union-Tribune. “If it’s left up to me, I want to play football. I can’t stand sitting out.”

Norv Turner, the Chargers coach, said he hoped Merriman will be able to play on Sept. 7 when the Chargers open their regular season against the Panthers.

“I think he can be close to 100 percent and get back with some real good rehab work,” coach Turner said. “He’s been doing a great job with it and I think he just needs some more time right now.”