GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Green Bay Packers offensive tackle Chad Clifton could be out for the season after injuring his hip when Warren Sapp hit him during an interception return.

Ligaments holding Clifton's right hip together separated and he also had some numbness in his legs and toes in the third quarter of the Packers' 21-7 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday, coach Mike Sherman said Monday.

Clifton was still in a Tampa hospital Monday and may not return to Green Bay until as late as Friday, Sherman said.

"He has a massive collection of blood in his pelvis, which is not good,'' Sherman said.

Doctors will not know whether Clifton is out for the season until he undergoes more tests once he returns to Green Bay.

Clifton was hurt after Tampa Bay's Brian Kelly made a third-quarter interception that set up Tampa Bay's go-ahead touchdown. Clifton was pursuing Kelly, but was not close to him.

Sapp appeared to hit Clifton in the front of the right shoulder. Clifton was taken to the locker room on a cart.

Sherman angrily confronted Sapp after the game Sunday, complaining that Sapp knocked one of his players out of the game with a cheap shot.

Sapp denied the accusation and said he was stunned Sherman came up to him and initiated an obscenity-laced exchange after the player finished a television interview on the field.

Sherman said Monday he had no regrets that he confronted Sapp after the game, but he regrets it has become such a big issue.

"I did what I thought I had to do,'' Sherman said. "I didn't want it to be confrontational. I just wanted to say what I felt was important. Chad wasn't there to represent himself.''

An NFL spokesperson said Monday no action is being considered against Sherman.

"I don't think that was right at all," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said of Sherman's actions. "That's my opinion. Again, we're moving on, but I felt that was inappropriate. ... Warren Sapp did nothing illegal, malicious.

"I don't believe you approach the player after a game."

No flag was thrown on the play. The NFL declined to fine Sapp.

"The play was reviewed,'' NFL spokesman Michael Signora said Monday. "And because it was legal, there will be no disciplinary action.''

"Warren Sapp did nothing illegal or malicious. He made an aggressive play,'' Gruden said Monday. "When a ball is intercepted, we're trying to score. No matter how that play is interpreted by a coach on another team or a fan of another team, Warren Sapp made no error whatsoever. And the celebration had nothing to do with the guy being injured, I can guarantee you that.''

Sapp said his hit was aggressive and clean.

"I've got two or three blockers on me. We get a pick, Brian Kelly is running all over the field. I see a guy going at my man, I put a lick on him. What's the problem?'' Sapp said. "I didn't hit him below the waist, there's no flag on the play. Is this not a contact sport?''

During the incident between Sapp and Sherman, an unidentified Packers staffer was shoved by Sapp, then functionaries from both franchises stepped into the fray.

At one point in the shouting match, Sapp screamed at Sherman: "If you think you're so tough, why don't you put on a uniform?"

In other injuries, defensive tackle Gilbert Brown sprained his left ankle and hurt his Achilles tendon. He will not practice until maybe Friday. Offensive tackle Earl Dotson has some pain in his hip and will not practice Wednesday.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.