Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com and Kevin Acee of the San Diego Union-Tribune are both reporting that the Buffalo Bills will claim linebacker Shawne Merriman off waivers.

Merriman was waived from the San Diego Chargers' injured reserve list after passing his physical on Tuesday. The 0-7 Bills have top priority in the NFL's waiver order.

A first-round pick out of Maryland in 2005, Merriman has 231 tackles and 43.5 quarterback sacks during his career, which has included three trips to the Pro Bowl (2005-07) and the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year award in '05. A knee injury limited Merriman to 15 games and 4 quarterback sacks over the 2008 and 2009 seasons.

Merriman (6-4, 272) had six tackles in three games before injuring his calf in a Week 3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.

Merriman was not eligible for unrestricted free agency this off-season, and is earning a $3.269 million base salary on a one-year restricted free agent tender. If the reports are accurate, the Bills will be on the hook for $1.73 million of that amount.