Michael Murphy is expected to return for Donegal in this Allianz League campaign but Caolan McGonagle is now a doubt for the Ulster SFC clash with Armagh in April.
Murphy, McGonagle, Michael Langan and Jamie Brennan were among the senior Donegal players who missed today's 1-13 to 0-7 loss to Kerry in Killarney.
Murphy and Langan were absent due to hamstring injuries, but both will return in the coming weeks, although next Saturday's league clash against Tyrone could come too early for the forward pair.
"Michael Murphy, we're just waiting to see and we are not going to be rushing him," said Tir Chonaill boss Declan Bonner. "Jamie Brennan is still a few weeks away.
"Michael (Langan) is struggling with an injury at the minute, we'll just wait and see. Caolan McGonagle, he's going to be out for the rest of the league.
"Caolan has been one of our mainstays in the middle of the park for the last couple of years.
"Unfortunately, he picked up an injury against Kildare and it is more serious than we thought so he is going to be out for a period."
McGonagle broke a bone in his hand in the victory over the Lilywhites and, when asked if he was in danger of missing the April 24 championship meeting with Armagh in Ballybofey, Bonner replied: "Possibly, yeah.
"It is unfortunate. He has probably been our most consistent player over the last couple of seasons. Hopefully, we can get him back on time for championship.
"This was Hugh McFadden's first game in six months after he picked up that nasty injury. To get him back on the pitch was important, and it was good to get Oisin Gallen his first taste of football this season."
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