North Melbourne tagger Ben Jacobs could miss up to 10 weeks of the AFL season, with an ongoing foot injury worsening this week.
Jacobs, 24, played 23 games for the Kangaroos last year after initially struggling to establish himself following his switch from Port Adelaide at the end of the 2012 season.
The former first-round draft pick won't play this weekend against Carlton.
North moved quickly on Thursday evening to clarify his situation after it had been reported he was set to undergo season-ending surgery.
"We've been managing and closely monitoring an issue with Ben's foot since January," Roos football chief Geoff Walsh said.
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"A hot spot flared up this week and scans revealed a very small stress fracture in his fifth metatarsal.
"The club is now assessing various treatment options, with surgery a real possibility.
"Early advice is that if surgery is required, he'll be looking at eight to 10 weeks on the sidelines.
"Reports that Ben won't return for the remainder of the home-and-away season are unfounded and speculative."
Jacobs joins a growing list of casualties at the undefeated club, with Shaun Higgins, Daniel Wells, Taylor Garner and Jed Anderson among the injured Roos unavailable.
