LINCOLN, NEB. ? Nebraska quarterback Curt Dukes probably will miss spring football practice after undergoing surgery recently to alleviate a chronic knee problem, coach Frank Solich announced Thursday at his news conference.

Dukes, a heralded freshman from Stony Point, N.C., enrolled at Nebraska last January so he could participate in spring drills. He was briefly in the running for the starter’s job at midseason, but he decided to sit out as a redshirt and preserve four years of eligibility.

He is expected to challenge Jammal Lord for the starter’s job next season.

“If he’s unable to do much in the spring, he’ll have to have a great early fall to be part of things,” Solich said.

Solich said two screws were inserted in Dukes’ kneecap to secure a bone. He is going through rehabilitation.

Dukes injured the knee in practice and had problems with it off-and-on through the fall.

Solich said it helps that Dukes enrolled early so he could go through spring practice last March and April.

“He’s been initiated to a degree,” Solich said. “This fall, he got mixed in with the rest of the quarterbacks in running our offense some of the time.”

Solich also said free safety Philip Bland and offensive lineman Wes Cody are questionable for the Independence Bowl on Dec. 27.

Bland has been bothered by a hamstring. Solich didn’t disclose Cody’s injury, but the starting right guard was on crutches this week.