ESSENDON key position player Courtney Johns appears to have suffered a serious knee injury in the VFL on Saturday afternoon.

Melbourne radio station SEN has suggested Johns may have damaged the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Johns was stretchered off the ground, after he reached for a mark and landed awkwardly at the 29-minute mark of the second term of the Bendigo Bombers' encounter with Port Melbourne.

The 23-year-old has played two matches for Essendon this season, the Anzac Day clash with Collingwood and against Port Adelaide the following week.

Johns' career total sits at 21, with a severe hip injury stalling his 2005 debut.