Meath's Kevin Reilly is not likely to be available to manager Eamonn O'Brien again until the middle of the summer.
The Navan O'Mahonys defender has found recovery slow after he suffered a back problem last year and underwent surgery prior to Christmas.
He has missed all of the Royals' games in a tame National Football League Division Two game to date and will now miss the rest of the competition too, and also possibly their Leinster SFC opener against Offaly.
O'Brien has confirmed that the player will not play at al in the league and he now has to deal with fresh injury concerns as well after David Bray was hurt in the disappointing defeat to Tipperary on Sunday.
Bray injured his knee at Thurles and is awaiting a full assessment from medics.
Meath have won two and lost two of their four Division 2 games to date this year and next face Leinster rivals Laois at Pairc Tailteann on Saturday evening.