GEELONG veteran JamesKelly could need to wear a cricket box when he eventually returns from a ruptured right testicle, leading sports medico Dr Peter Larkins says.

Kelly was injured in the third quarter of Geelong's win over Richmond on Saturday when he landed awkwardly after a marking contest.

The 31-year-old had surgery to repair the rupture on Saturday night but his likely return date remains unclear.

Larkins told AFL.com.au on Monday that when Kelly returns he is likely to follow the example of Crow Richard Douglas, who returned earlier than expected from a ruptured testicle last season by wearing a cricket box.

"James Kelly has had successful surgery which means in the long-term there should be no [complications]," Larkins said.

"James' recovery time remains unknown but it will be a few weeks, obviously, because of the bruising and swelling.

"We saw Richard Douglas wear a cricket box when he returned after three weeks when he was expected to be out for six. 

"It wouldn't surprise me if he does come back wearing a cricket protector in order to play AFL footy."

West Coast spearhead Josh Kennedy missed most of the second quarter of the Eagles' win over Greater Western Sydney on Saturday night after hurting his right elbow in a marking contest. 

Kennedy returned in the second half with his elbow strapped and booted four more goals to finish with six for the game.

Larkins said it was likely Kennedy had suffered "significant structural damage" around his elbow that could sideline him for this Sunday's clash against Port Adelaide. 

"Josh got a significant sprain of the elbow ligaments with some nerve stretching and nerve damage, so he really had a very painful elbow with a loss of power and weakness," Larkins said.

"Even though they strapped him up and he went back on, I think we'll probably find that there's significant structural damage around the elbow. 

"The fact he played with a strap means he may be able to train and play with it strapped, but if he has quite significant ligament damage he might struggle to play on with that. 

Larkins said Adelaide's six-day turnaround this round meant it was likely to rest midfield star Rory Sloane from its clash with Gold Coast on Saturday.

Sloane was substituted out of the Crows' loss to Port Adelaide in the last quarter with a calf injury.

"If a player's got a tight calf or a little bit of bleeding – more of a corked calf – then teams are more likely not to risk playing him because they know he'll be right for the following week and I think that's a lesson learned from the past," Larkins said. 

"A precautionary exclusion usually means you miss the one week rather than trying to play.

"Not being critical of St Kilda, but I think Nick Riewoldt is a good example. If he hadn't tried to warm up (before the Saints' round three clash with Collingwood) and aggravated the calf, he might be playing now."

Larkins said Brisbane Lions captain Tom Rockliff could miss Sunday's clash with the Blues with concussion after he was knocked out in the Lions' loss to Gold Coast.

Although stressing players could make speedy recoveries after being knocked out, Larkins said the fact Rockliff had also been making an early return from broken ribs and a punctured lung against the Suns could convince the Lions to give him this round off.

Larkins also said:

- Richmond star Brett Deledio (calf) is "very close" to returning after four weeks on the sidelines and should train at about 80 per cent intensity this week. But he remains in doubt for Saturday's game against North Melbourne at Hobart's Blundstone Arena because of his lack of conditioning.

- Carlton spearhead Lachie Henderson will miss two to three games with a "small" hamstring tear.

- Sydney Swan Sam Reid is likely to miss more than one week with a calf strain.

- Gold Coast defender Seb Tape looks set to avoid surgery for a medial ligament strain that is similar to Brian Lake's recent injury and should sideline him for four to five weeks. 

- Geelong forward Mitch Clark (foot) should train this week and be back for the Cats' game against Collingwood on Friday night.

- Blue Michael Jamison (corked calf), Roo Jarrad Waite (hamstring) and Hawk Paul Puopolo (quad) are all likely to play this round after their teams cautiously rested them last week. 

- Collingwood defender Paul Seedsman entered last Friday night's win over Carlton with a corked hip pointer and copped another knock on it. But the Magpies substituted him out of the game in the third quarter as a precaution and he should be fit to play the Cats.