Luke Keary will miss the Sydney Roosters' clash with South Sydney but James Tedesco believes the concussion-prone five-eighth's latest head knock was less serious than previous setbacks.
It comes as Penrith confirm star prop forward James Fisher-Harris has avoided structural damage to his shoulder, but will be a week-by-week proposition.
Keary's head struck the knee of Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic as he chased a kick late in Sunday's NRL loss to the Sea Eagles.
Keary consulted with club medical staff on Monday, with the Roosters confirming the NRL's 11-day concussion stand-down protocols would rule him out of Friday's game against arch-rivals Souths.
Keary suffered five concussions between January 2018 and May 2019 and missed more than a month of the 2022 season after another head knock.
But Tedesco, no stranger to concussions himself, said Keary's latest blow had not been quite so heavy.
"He came back on the bus and drove back with the boys so he was good enough for that," the Roosters captain said.
"I hope he's all right.
"After it he seemed in good spirits and it definitely wasn't as bad as some other ones he's had previously."
Keary is a chance to clear concussion protocols in time to face reigning premiers Penrith on March 28 but will need to be symptom-free to take the field.
Up-and-coming playmaker Sandon Smith is the likeliest candidate to replace Keary in the halves against Souths, with Joey Manu also an option to move from the centres.
Manu, a particularly strong performer in the Roosters' round-one win over Brisbane, was unfazed about the prospect of a positional switch.
"There are a lot of halves (options) there," Manu said.
"I've played that before but I'll just play wherever I'm needed. As long as I'm out there, I'll try to do my job."
Billy Smith would be the most logical replacement for Manu in the centres, having recovered from the hamstring injury he suffered ahead of round one.
Fisher-Harris is in doubt for Thursday's grand final rematch against Brisbane after leaving the Panthers' win over Parramatta in the first half on Friday night.
The talismanic prop was unable to return to the field or watch the remainder of the game from the sidelines, with coach Ivan Cleary saying he had "lost power" in his shoulder.
Scans taken on Sunday confirmed Fisher-Harris had avoided major damage but he will continue to be monitored by medical staff.
Lindsay Smith is likely to start alongside Moses Leota on Thursday night.
Australian Associated Press
