Scotland's injury woes have been compounded with the news that hooker Fraser Brown is sidelined for eight weeks with a knee injury.
Brown sustained the injury in his club Glasgow Warriors' 29-25 European Champions Cup defeat at Exeter. The 28-year-old has been involved either from the start or as a replacement in Scotland's last 19 internationals.
It adds to the growing injury list for Scotland's November internationals with scrum-half Greig Laidlaw having also been ruled out with a fractured ankle.
Scotland face Samoa, New Zealand and Australia.
"It is a blow for us and Greig," Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend told BBC Radio 5 live. "He was hitting form as well.
"It's been an adjustment for him going to Clermont but it's one of the best clubs in Europe and just to make that adjustment and be able to play well as a scrum-half, at a different club, with a different language – he was doing really well.
"So to miss out in November is disappointing for him and obviously us; he played a huge part in Scotland's success over the past couple of seasons.
"A lot of people look at the on-field stuff and his goal-kicking and his play at scrum-half, but off the field there is so much work that gets done by the players to establish that culture and that drive to get better."
Meanwhile, there was better news on the John Barclay front with Townsend expecting his stand-in captain to be back within in the next fortnight.
Barclay deputised as captain in the second half of the Six Nations and the June internationals as Laidlaw was initially injured and then away with the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand.
"We are fortunate that in John, we have someone there who if available would do a great job," added Townsend, who will announce his squad for the autumn Tests on Monday, October 23.
"We are hoping John will come back – within the next week or two – to full fitness."
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