Essendon have provided updates on young defender Zach Reid and forward Kyle Langford, who suffered hamstring and quad strains in Friday's win over Richmond.
Both Reid and Langford failed to the game due to soft-tissue concerns, with both players undergoing scans on Saturday.
Reid has dealt with a series of hamstring injuries over the course of his five-year career with the Bombers, with his latest ailment a worrying concern.
Essendon reported the issue as 'hamstring tightness', with coach Brad Scott relaying that there may not even be an injury for the key defender.
The club held greater concerns for Langford, who has suffered a quad strain. Langford missed five games earlier this year with a hamstring strain, and is now facing another period out of action.
In an update from the club, the Bombers have confirmed strains for both players, with return timeframes unclear.
"Key defender Reid has sustained a hamstring strain, with a clear return-to-play timeline to be confirmed in the coming days as he begins his rehabilitation program," the update read.
"Langford has been diagnosed with a quad strain. His injury will also require a yet to be determined period on the sidelines.
"The Club will provide further updates on the expected returns of both players as their recovery progresses."
The hampered duo join an injury list that only just lost Darcy Parish and Jade Gresham, with the former returning for his first game of the year in the VFL on Saturday.
The Bombers have already lost four players for the rest of the season, while young utility Nik Cox is facing an uncertain future with an ongoing concussion battle.
Scott spoke with Cox on Friday night, stressing the importance of health over a football career.
"It's so disappointing and frustrating and challenging for him," the Bombers coach said of the club's former top 10 pick.
"I said to him pre-game in the rooms, football is really important, we play in this unbelievable competition, but there are things that are more important.
"We'll just give Nik all the time he needs. We're hopeful he'll get back soon, but we just won't compromise his health.
"The game's taken great strides forward in that regard. I was told during the week there had been a number of players forced into retirement because of concussion. Is that a bad thing? Well, 20 years ago, that didn't happen.
"We put players at risk for the rest of their lives, and it's actually a positive from my point of view, because we're identifying it and looking after the players better than we ever have."
Essendon's win places them in the top eight, however they could fall back out of the final frame by the end of the weekend.
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