TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -Tampa Bay quarterback Chris Simms had his spleen removed after taking several hard hits in Sunday's 26-24 loss to the Carolina Panthers and was resting comfortably in a hospital, according to a television report.

Simms had a blood transfusion as part of his treatment and was expected to be hospitalized for several days, Peter King said during a break on NBC's Sunday Night Football, citing a conversation he had with Simms' mother, Diana Simms.

King, a reporter for Sports Illustrated, also said the quarterback did not appear to be in any imminent danger.

Team spokesman Jeff Kamis confirmed that Simms, who left the game briefly but returned, was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital, a few blocks from Raymond James Stadium. Kamis declined to comment on the quarterback's condition or the nature of his injury.

Coach Jon Gruden said during his postgame press conference that Simms hurt his ribs early in the game and was also battling dehydration.

``He is hurting right now, there is no question,'' Gruden said. ``He left the game. I don't know that it was because of his ribs, dehydration or both.''

Simms was replaced by rookie Bruce Gradkowski for the last play of the third quarter and first play of the fourth. He went to the ground on one knee before leaving the field and walking to the locker room on his own power.

The Bucs punted two plays later, and Simms returned to the game when Tampa Bay got the ball back. He led a fourth-quarter field goal drive that gave the Bucs a 24-23 lead, but the defense couldn't hold.

When he left the game, the team announced he was cramping. The 26-year-old finished the game, which Carolina won on John Kasay's 46-yard field goal with 2 seconds remaining, and left the field with his teammates on his own power.

Simms completed 13 of 24 passes for 139 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He was sacked once and also took a hard hit when he scored on a 2-yard run that gave Tampa Bay a 21-20 lead in the third quarter.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.