Nebraska quarterback Zac Lee revealed Wednesday after the Holiday Bowl that he needs surgery on his right flexor tendon, which developed from a wrist injury he suffered way back in a 38-9 win over Arkansas State.

Lee will get surgery in early January and won't be able to throw for 2-3 months. Whether he'll be able to throw in spring practice is yet to be determined. For the better part of the 2009 season, Lee dealt with significant pain in his elbow.

"It would have been a wildfire if that came out during the season," Lee said.

How does that affect the quarterback competition? Based on Lee's performance Wednesday - and Cody Green's performance - it may not affect it much. Green's going to have to significantly improve at passing and just figuring out the plays - he wore a perplexed expression before most of his snaps - before he can challenge Lee for the job.

Could Kody Spano or Taylor Martinez make a move? That remaisn to be seen.

How much was Lee affected during the year? Well, he never threw as sharply as he did vs. Arkansas State. As the year went on, his deep ball floated on him more, a sign of the pain getting to him. Could that have played a role in why Lee was benched - or why Lee didn't throw much in certain games? Potentially.

Then again, Lee played one of his best games of the year at Kansas.

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