Adams sustained a head knock playing for the Kangaroos' VFL affiliate Werribee against Footscray in a practice match on Saturday.

Adams will consult with a neurosurgeon over Easter as he weighs up the risks of continuing his 104-game career. As such, the club have already ruled him out of round one.

Adams, 26, has suffered several concussions throughout his career, including one sustained in round 23 last year which caused him to miss the finals series.

North Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow said he hoped Adams' career would not be coming to an end.

"It's a bit of a shame 'Patchy' (Adams) got another concussion and I think it's a bit too early to really call what he's going to do and a bit unfair I think (to ask) Leigh what he's going to do," Swallow said on Wednesday.

"He's going to have a couple of weeks where he just goes in and trains and I know he's got a doctor's appointment in a couple of weeks so he'll get a bit more information.

"Hopefully he can rebound from this and he'll be all right, but as players I think everyone in the back of their mind has got to be thinking long term and where they want to be.

"So it will probably come down to his decision in a few weeks' time but I haven't got any inside information on that."

Swallow believed that things had changed for the better when it came to management of head injuries in the AFL.

"I think not just as players but as a competition, we were probably a bit unaware and some of the guys that got sent back onto the field five, 10 years ago probably shouldn't have been playing," he said.