Joakim Noah out 2-4 weeks with shoulder tear

The prognosis for Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah just got a little worse.

Noah's injury was initially reported as a shoulder sprain, but he told K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune on Wednesday that it's a "slight tear," and he will miss two-to-four weeks rather than just two.

He sustained the injury in Monday's loss to the Brooklyn Nets, after getting tangled up with Andrea Bargnani. Noah rushed off the court immediately and did not return.

Injuries are never timely, but the Bulls have hit a rough patch and they need all hands on deck. Chicago has squeaked by games on account of their third-ranked defense, but that mark will be difficult to maintain without their defensive anchor.

Related: Noah questions Bulls' identity as team continues to falter

Certainly, their 27th-ranked offense can't be relied upon to swing games in their favor.

The silver lining to Noah's ailment is that it could potentially free up more playing time for rookie Bobby Portis, who has impressed in limited minutes. But at a time of tension in Chicago, not having Noah could exacerbate their recent three-game slide, which includes embarrassing losses to the Knicks and Nets.

Noah's been relegated to the bench this season, and is averaging just 4.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 22.3 minutes per game this season while shooting 40.7 percent from the floor.