Nick Collins Underwent Neck Surgery

Green Bay Packers safety Nick Collins underwent successful neck surgery on Thursday night, Charley Casserly of CBS Sports reports.

According to Casserly, it was a "single fusion in his neck vertebrae", and the club is optimistic that he'll play in 2012. Collins' agent, Alan Herman, says whether or not Collins can continue his NFL career won't be known for six months.

"There’s no answer right now. We’re not going to know for six months," Herman said via Jason Wilde of ESPN Milwaukee. "But there’s no a doubt in my mind Nick Collins wants to play football provided he’s healthy. He’s 28 years old and has got a bunch of years ahead of him if he recovers from this. But he’s also a smart guy, and if Dr. Cammissa says there’s a risk of potentially hurting himself, then Nick will make the right decision.:

The Packers have yet to place Collins on injured reserve, but that transaction is inevitable and could occur before Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos.

Collins was injured on September 18 when he was attempting to tackle Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart, who landed on Collins' head after his attempt to hurdle the three-time Pro Bowl safety. Collins spent the night in a Charlotte hospital, but returned to Green Bay the following day.

As part of his three-year, $22.8 million contract extension from 2010, Collins has $300,000 available in per game roster bonuses. In order to receive those $18,750 weekly payments, Collins needed to be on the 45-man (now 46-man) active roster.