CARLTON defender Michael Jamison could miss eight weeks after surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his knee.

Eight weeks on the sideline would effectively rule Jamison out for the majority of the home and away season with Carlton having its bye in round 23, leaving the 25-year-old only the last round clash against St Kilda to ready himself for the rigours of finals football.

Jamison hurt his knee in the round 14 loss to West Coast with the original diagnosis suggesting the defender would miss four weeks but Carlton football manager Steven Icke says the defender could be sidelined for up to eight weeks.

"He had a meniscus tear, it got repaired and it will be somewhere between four and six weeks and if it's slower, it will be between six and eight weeks," Icke told the Herald Sun.

"We're not going to put a number on [how many weeks].

"We're hoping to have him available in the time frame we've mentioned ... but it could well be he's not available until after that bye.

"But the bottom line is we won't compromise him or his longevity."

Jamison has averaged 9.6 disposals, four marks and 1.9 tackles a game this season and has been a key figure in Carlton's defence, which ranks third in the AFL for average points allowed.