Bucs released SLB Quincy Black.

This was fully expected to happen. Black suffered nerve damage in his neck and upper arm after a collision on the field last season. He was set to earn $5.5 million in each of the next three seasons. Tampa Bay signed his replacement in Jonathan Casillas on Wednesday. Black's football future is up in the air.

Bucs SLB Quincy Black won't know whether his January nerve-graft surgery was successful for "several months."

He's had limited movement in his left arm since suffering the damaged nerve in mid-November. GM Mark Dominik acknowledged at the Combine that Black may have played his last snap for the Buccaneers. Black was a poor fit for Greg Schiano's defense from the get-go, and his football career is now in jeopardy.

All of the guaranteed money in Bucs SLB Quincy Black's five-year, $29 million contract has already been paid.

Black is undergoing surgery later this month to facilitate the healing of a damaged nerve in his neck, and is considered a "long way" from playing football again. The Bucs could release Black this offseason with zero cap hit, although they'd owe him some cash as part of his injury protection. Black struggled in Greg Schiano's new defense before suffering his injury in Week 10.

Bucs SLB Quincy Black has yet to undergo surgery and is still having complications from the neck injury that sidelined him after Week 10.

Black is fully expected to recover from the injury that hospitalized him after a collision with Chargers RB Ryan Mathews, but it will keep him off the field for an undetermined period of time. He is expected to undergo surgery "soon," though. Black is due $5.5 million in each of the next three seasons.

Bucs coach Greg Schiano is unsure of SLB Quincy Black's (neck) status for the 2013 campaign entering the offseason.

Black was hospitalized following a November 11 collision with Chargers RB Ryan Mathews and never played another snap in 2012. "They are still not sure what they're doing medically," Schiano said. "He's been to some different places in the country, the finest people there are. So I'm not sure what's going to happen there." Black is owed a pricey $5.5 million base salary in 2013.

Bucs placed SLB Quincy Black (neck) on injured reserve, ending his season.

Black was hospitalized and suffered complications with his left arm. The injury is not believed to be career-threatening, but the Bucs obviously believed it will be awhile before he returns to form. Black was Tampa Bay's least effective starting linebacker through nine games, playing less than half the snaps of rookie Lavonte David. He will be in the third year of a five-year contract in 2013.

Bucs LB Quincy Black is expected to be "okay overall," but is haivng "complications" with his left arm.

Coach Greg Schiano admits the situation is "serious," and "hopes" Black's injury isn't career-threatening. Schiano has refused to rule Black out for 2012, but it seems extremely unlikely he takes the field again this season. Black has appeared in all nine games to date, making five starts. If his year is through, he'll finish with 35 tackles and zero sacks.

The Bucs are uncertain if LB Quincy Black (neck) will be able to play again this season.

Black lowered his head to tackle Ryan Mathews on Sunday and took the worst of a helmet-to-helmet blow. He has been discharged from a Tampa hospital, but is set for more testing Monday. Black had 29 tackles in eight games coming into Sunday.

Bucs LB Quincy Black left Sunday's Week 10 game against the Chargers with an apparent neck injury.

In the third quarter, Black lowered his head to tackle Ryan Mathews. It resulted in a helmet-to-helmet blow and Black immediately went motionless. The cart came out and the players gathered in prayer.

Quincy Black has been running as the starting strong-side linebacker during minicamp.

Mason Foster has been in the middle and second-round rookie Lavonte David has been on the weak side. ESPN's Pat Yasinskas believes Black will be pushed by Adam Hayward for the gig, but there's not much IDP upside here either way. The strong-side 'backer doesn't typically rack up tackles in new coach Greg Schiano's defensive scheme.

Mason Foster, not Quincy Black, spent the week exclusively at middle linebacker in Bucs minicamp.

"I think (Foster) had a good three days," coach Greg Schiano said. "I'm not sure where all those linebackers will land." Black may have opened camp in the middle, but the Tampa Times believes the "most likely outcome" is Foster retaining the position for 2012.

Quincy Black lined up as the first-team middle linebacker at the start of Bucs minicamps on Tuesday.

Mason Foster and Adam Hayward were the outside 'backers. The lineup may not stick, of course, but Black would become an awfully interesting IDP target if it does. He played a middle linebacker-slash-safety role at New Mexico, the position made famous there by Brian Urlacher. Black was part of the problem for Tampa Bay's run defense last year, however, taking a big step back from 2010.

Bucs LB Quincy Black (ankle) is inactive for Sunday's game against the 49ers.

He appeared likely to play but couldn't get over the hump for the second straight week. Dekoda Watson will start in his place and played well against the Niners last year, so don't go crazy upgrading Frank Gore. WR Sammie Stroughter, TE Luke Stocker, T James Lee, G Derek Hardman, LB Zach Diles, and S Devin Holland join him on the inactive list.

Bucs LB Quincy Black (ankle) has resumed practicing.

Black was inactive in Week 3 after suffering the injury in Week 2. It's unclear if he will be ready to give it a go on Monday against the Colts. If not, Dekoda Watson will make his second straight start on the strong side.

Bucs declared LB Quincy Black, WR Sammie Stroughter, RB Allen Bradford, S Larry Asante, CB Anthony Gaitor, OT Derek Hardman, OT James Lee inactive for Week 3 against the Falcons.

Dakota Watson is expected to replace Black on the strong side. Rookie Mason Foster will play all three downs while wearing the helmet transmitter this week.

Bucs SLB Quincy Black missed several tackles in the first half of Sunday's win over the Vikings, and coach Raheem Morris says it was due to an ankle injury.

Morris quickly benched Black and increased MLB Mason Foster's role, allowing the rookie to play in the nickel and dime defenses. Foster proceeded to rack up 10 tackles (7 solo), a sack, and a forced fumble. The extent of Black's injury is not known, but it's a good sign that he was in the locker room after the game talking to reporters. He's probably just day to day.

Bucs agreed to terms with SLB Quincy Black on a five-year, $29 million contract.

Black also receives $11.5 million in guarantees. Though not as much of a household name, Black was more valuable to Tampa Bay than MLB Barrett Ruud last season. Black was one of only three 4-3 outside linebackers to carry positive ratings in run stopping, pass rush, pass coverage and penalties in 2010, according to Pro Football Focus. With a vacancy at linebacker, the Bills could turn their attention to Ruud.

Free agent LB Quincy Black and the Bucs appear close on a new contract.

Black's agent is in talks with GM Mark Dominik about a multi-year deal and is optimistic it will get done in the next day or so. Black, a starter for the past two seasons, has averaged 5.3 tackles per game over that span.

Free agent LB Quincy Black is probably in the Bucs' long-term plans, according to the St. Petersburg Times.

The Bucs are well under the salary cap and will actually have to spend money to reach the "floor." If they don't bring back Black, it's because they want to move forward with Dekoda Watson and Mason Foster -- not because they can't afford Black.

According to the Pewter Report, three teams "rumored" to be interested in free agent LB Quincy Black are the Chargers, Bears, and Lions.

As with most rumors, we'd take this one with a grain of salt. Black "definitely has his supporters at One Buc Place," but the front office has selected Mason Foster and Dekota Watson in the past two drafts. The Pewter Report suggests the Bucs may only be willing re-sign Black "at the price."