Carlton captain Patrick Cripps has been playing with a fracture in his back this season, according to The Age.
He has played every game so far this season, but has required weekly injections to get through.
The report suggests the Carlton co-captain suffered the injury in a pre-season game and it has held him back since.
Brisbane star Lachie Neale started the season with a similar injury, also playing through it.
Similarly to Neale, the report adds that Cripps’ injury is improving and he is slowly getting back to full strength.
Cripps has not been at his best so far this season, averaging 24 disposals and six clearances per game.
He only found 15 disposals in the club’s loss to the Western Bulldogs on the weekend.
SEN’s Andy Maher predicted on Wednesday afternoon that the Blues would rest the star midfielder for this weekend’s clash with Melbourne.
The 2019 AFLPA MVP is out of contract at the end of the season.