The Jayhawks will be without Melvin Council Jr. for at least the next several weeks.

Council broke his right foot in practice on Monday, No. 15 Kansas head coach Bill Self announced. He is set to undergo surgery in the next few days. While Self didn't provide a specific timeline for Council's return, he said they were "hopeful" he'd make it back onto the court around the start of their Big 12 slate.

If that is the case, Council would presumably return in early January. Kansas will open Big 12 play against West Virginia on Jan. 2. 

Council averaged 12.7 points and five rebounds per game last season, his first in Lawrence after transferring in from St. Bonaventure. The Jayhawks went 24-11 last year and reached the second round of the NCAA tournament, which marked their fourth straight exit in the opening weekend of the event.

The 24-year-old was granted a preliminary injunction in October, which allowed him to return to play a seventh season of college basketball and compete for Kansas one more year. Council had 10 points and seven assists in their 30-point blowout win over Fordham to open the season, and he had six points in their win over Middle Tennessee State on Friday.

While it doesn't sound like Council will be sidelined for too long, the Jayhawks will have to take on several notable opponents without him. They will go up against No. 24 Kentucky at the United Center on Tuesday night, which is part of the "State Farm Champions Classic" in Chicago. They also have Missouri, No. 4 UConn and Ohio State on the schedule before the end of the calendar year, and potentially a battle with No. 1 Florida in the Players Era Eight tournament in Las Vegas later this month.