BRENDON Goddard will miss Essendon's clash against Gold Coast at Etihad Stadium on Sunday because of a groin strain.

The Bombers skipper injured his groin in the first quarter of his side's 66-point loss to Geelong on Sunday.

Goddard went to change direction to mark a switch kick from teammate Jackson Merrett, but immediately felt a grab and pulled up lame.

Goddard is set to find out the extent of his injury when he meets with club doctor Bruce Reid later on Tuesday, but when asked whether he might be fit to face the Suns, the Essendon captain was quick to rule out that prospect.

"Probably not, no," Goddard told RSN 927.

"I've definitely tweaked the adductor, or groin, in simple terms, so he'll (Reid) give me a run down of the details today.

"It's looking like definitely not this week and then hopefully (I'll) try to get myself up for the Bulldogs game in two weeks."

The Bombers play against the Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on August 21 and with Goddard to miss the match against the Suns, youngsters Zach Merrett or Joe Daniher may get a chance to captain the club.

Goddard said the nature of the injury was frustrating.

"I've been pretty pleased with the way I've been pulling up and my ability to recover from games on a quick turnaround," Goddard said.

"I hadn't had any warning signs. A couple of soft-tissue injuries I've had in the past I've had warning signs and this one essentially came from nowhere.

"So besides this, I seriously feel pretty good."

Goddard is in the final year of the four-year contract he signed upon joining Essendon from St Kilda at the end of 2012, but is confident his status will be sorted out promptly.

"That's still ongoing. I assume something will get done pretty soon," he said.

Goddard also said he Jobe Watson should resume the club captaincy if he returns to football after his year-long suspension.

"If Jobe decides to come back, in my mind it's his job," he said.

"I said at the start of the year it wasn't a position I wanted to be in because I knew what would have happened for me to get to this position.

"In my mind I'm just a stand-in captain and if Jobe decides to come back ... it would be his decision to make about what happens moving forward."