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 Sunday'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. We’re hoping two Michaels might get a chance to play in the League.
"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."
Bonner had hoped his side's work in the first half would be enough to push them on to victory.
But Donegal never pushed on and Ryan McHugh blew their only goal opportunity six minutes from time, when they were six points adrift, by trying to find Patrick McBrearty instead of taking a shot on himself.
"We had a goal opportunity late on but there was a lack of creativity," said Bonner.
"Disappointed with the second half performance. Our number one priority is to maintain Division 1 status and get ready for championship.
"We're down a lot of bodies so it’s about getting those lads back, which is going to be a very difficult tie against Armagh.
"We have four more difficult games now in the National League."
As for Shaun Patton's concession of the game's only goal, when the ball bounced in front of him and he spilled it into the net, Bonner was sympathetic towards his netminder.
"Conditions were poor, it kind of spilled or bounced in front and he lost it," said the Donegal manager.
"It was one of those things that can happen. We didn’t create enough chances and Kerry were the better side, no doubt about it.
"There were a number of decent performances and there were lads getting back on the pitch that haven’t played at all.
"From that point of view, yeah, we have a bit of work to do. It’s always a difficult place to get a result but the performance wasn’t good enough to get something out of.
"Look, we have six days now to prepare for Tyrone so that’s the next challenge. We have to get ourselves up the road now.
"Let’s hope the weather picks up and it should be a good tie."
