Bucs place Nicks on IR

Tampa, FL – The Tampa Bay Buccaneers placed guard Carl Nicks and rookie tight end Danny Noble on injured reserve Tuesday.

Nicks has been playing with a toe injury for most of the season but apparently the issue has become severe enough to end his year. He is scheduled to have surgery for the ailment -- a torn plantar plate.

A Pro Bowl selection in 2010 and 2011, Nicks started each of the Bucs' first seven games at left guard. He had a string of 68 consecutive games started.

Noble had been inactive for Tampa Bay's last three games.