The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost linebacker Quincy Black for the final seven games of the season after he sustained a nasty neck injury against the San Diego Chargers, but they're likely to miss him for a while longer. Stephen Holder of the Tampa Bay Times talked to Buccaneers general manager Mark Dominik at the Senior Bowl and got some news on Black's situation.

Also, LB Quincy Black will undergo surgery soon as he's still having complications from neck/shoulder injury sustained last season

— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) January 22, 2013

The goal of surgery is to continue to promote the regrowth of the damaged nerve.

— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) January 22, 2013

Nerve damage can be a very debilitating injury, and it's quite possible that Black will never get back to playing form. IT's completely unclear how long he will take to recover. In addition, one other factor plays against his possible return to Tampa: his contract. The Bucs have been clearing cap space at a record pace in order to spend in free agency this year, and the $5.5 million Black is due would be too much for him in a healthy state, let alone for an injured Quincy Black. When he was healthy, he was strictly a two-down linebacker being taken off the field as soon as the Bucs faced anything but run-heavy personnel. Even if Black returns to health, the Bucs are unlikely to bring him back -- at least at that salary.

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