Down's Ambrose Rodgers is believed to be in a stable condition after undergoing surgery in Dublin within hours of their All-Ireland SFC qualifier defeat to Wexford at Croke Park over the weekend.
Although finishing the game at headquarters, Rodgers suffered a collision and was quickly taken to the Mater Hospital where he was operated on for a suspected ruptured spleen.
It is understood he lost more than several pints of blood and had to have another operation to remove the spleen.
The son of 1991 All-Ireland winner Ambrose Snr has been unlucky with injury as he only returned to the Down fold in May after being sidelined for a year with a cruciate injury.