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Essendon face the next three-to-four weeks without gun defender Cale Hooker, who suffered a calf strain against the Western Bulldogs.

Essendon will be without Cale Hooker up to four weeks due to a calf injury.

The key defender suffered a calf strain in Friday night's loss to the Western Bulldogs, with the Bombers listing his injury as a three-to-four week prospect.

"He actually sustained a cork to the other calf early in the match which he felt impeded his running mechanics and that overloaded the other calf that he injured," Essendon head of medical services David Rundle said.

"He won't be available to play this week and should resume running in the next 10-12 days."

Essendon will play five games over the next four weeks - and will be without Hooker for at least two of them.

Hooker, 31, has been ruled out of Sunday's clash with Adelaide and would be expected to miss the Bombers' round nine clash with Brisbane on July 31.

Essendon then play GWS on August 7, Gold Coast on August 12 and St Kilda on August 16.