Coach Rodney Eade said the injury occurred in the same collision with Sydney Swan Adam Goodes on Saturday night that injured Morris’ shoulder.
He said Morris would be sidelined for a minimum of six weeks but was expected to make a full recovery from the fractured vertebrae.
“He’ll be able to jog in about four weeks’ time," Eade said at Whitten Oval on Wednesday. "It’s a vertebrae; it’s not affecting anywhere near the spinal cord. It’s like a cracked rib more than anything.”
Barry Hall missed training with a corked thigh while Brian Lake was on light duties owing to a bout of conjunctivitis and a head cold but both are expected to be available this week.
Eade said Shaun Higgins was a chance to face Essendon on Saturday night, while Andrejs Everitt, Jordan Roughead, Will Minson, Josh Hill and Dylan Addison would be considered.
Higgins missed round 21 with a calf injury but has been affected more by his recent brush with a thyroid condition that prompted weight loss and fatigue.
“He’s had [the thyroid problem] for a few weeks and every week he’s improved,” Eade said, after Higgins completed most of Wednesday’s intense session.
“He’ll have another blood test to see where the reading is at but he’s a chance. He’s feeling pretty good.”
The Bulldogs are hopeful captain Brad Johnson will play in the first final against Collingwood in just under two weeks’ time after hurting his achilles on the weekend.
Eade said Adam Cooney’s hamstring tendon injury was certain to end his season, as it now had been assessed as an eight to 10-week injury.
He also said he was confident his players could work through their recent form slump and increasing injury list to rebound in time for finals.
“This game challenges in so many different ways, whether it’s form, win-loss, whether it’s injuries,” he said.
“I’ve got great confidence in this group to be able to meet these challenges. We’ve been disappointed in the last few weeks but I’ve got no doubt there will be a fair bit of fight left in the group.
“Experience helps you. We’ve been through many things like that before as a group and I think the discussion we had on Monday was pretty positive.”
