Tuesday afternoon the Buccaneers announced they have placed linebacker Quincy Black on Injured Reserve.

Black suffered what is reported to be a neck injury Sunday against the Chargers when he tackled San Diego RB Ryan Mathews in the third quarter. After lying motionless on the field surrounded by medical staff, teammates, and coaches for a number of minutes, the sixth-year veteran was carted off the field, giving “a thumbs” up sign.

Monday afternoon during his press conference, Bucs head coach Greg Schiano told the media Black was having more tests run after being released Sunday night. 

“Quincy (Black) overall he is going to be okay,” Schiano said. “Now it is a serious injury and he is having some complications with his left arm. So there are still further tests he has to go to before we can make a definitive statement. It is serious and how much time that means we are going to have to see.  As soon as we know we will let you know, but obviously that is not good. The good part of it having been down this road you know when you start down it is scary is that other than the left arm he has got full function. We will just kind of work through this now.”

Schiano is all too familiar with serious football injuries. In October 2010, Rutgers DT Eric LeGrand suffered a severe spinal cord injury after tackling Army ball carrier Malcolm Brown on a kickoff while Schiano was the head coach of the Scarlet Knights. LeGrand was paralyzed, but has since regained movement in his shoulders and sensation through his body. Tampa Bay symbolically signed LeGrand in May 2012 and in July the defensive tackle retired in order to free up a roster spot.  

When asked Monday if the injury Black suffered was career-ending, Schiano did not want to speculate, but seemed hopeful that the strong side linebacker would play again.

“I hope not,” Schiano said. “I don’t know enough yet again that would be speculating. I sure hope not. I think right now we still have to do these further tests to find out exactly what it is.”

The Bucs’ third round draft pick in 2007 has played in all nine games with Tampa Bay this season, starting five, while recording 32 tackles, three tackles for loss, one fumble recovery and three special teams tackles. Over the course of his career, Black has recorded 299 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, three interceptions, 13 passes defensed, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and 62 special teams tackles. 

Black is the fourth stater placed on IR this season for the Bucs. Pro-Bowl right guard Davin Joseph was lost for the season after suffering a knee injury in the Buccaneers' third preseason game against the Patriots, Tampa Bay's 2011 sack leader DE Adrian Clayborn was also placed on injured reserve with a knee injury that occurred during the Cowboys game in Week 3, and All-Pro left guard Carl Nicks was added to IR when the team found out that the toe injury he was battling all year required surgery. 

Adam Hayward replaced Black Sunday, and is thought to be the front-runner for the starting strongside linebacker position for the remainder of the season.