Ryan Anderson injury: Pelicans forward out at least 2 months

It's been a difficult season for the new-look Pelicans, and the news surrounding the team just got a little bit worse. Ryan Anderson revealed before his team's game against the Spurs that he will miss at least two months with a herniated disc, and a future MRI will clarify whether or not surgery is required, according to the twitter feed of Jennifer Hale of Fox Sports.

New Orleans is already without point guard Jrue Holiday due to a stress fracture in his right leg and is also dealing with an ankle injury to Tyreke Evans. For a team currently outside of the playoff picture looking in, the loss of the sharpshooting power forward is significant.

But despite the seriousness of back injuries, Hale reported Anderson's career is not in jeopardy, so long as the injury is dealt with properly.

If @PelicansNBA Ryan Anderson does need surgery on C5 & 6 discs, he says relatively safe procedure, similar to what Peyton Manning had.

— Jennifer Hale (@JenHale504) January 14, 2014

Anderson says this injury is not career-threatening, but if he were to re-injure spine before it's healed, that could end his career.

— Jennifer Hale (@JenHale504) January 14, 2014

Anderson is shooting a career-best 40.9 percent from the three-point line and has been a crucial element to the success the Pelicans have had this season. But with as young as this team is, it's important to keep the future in mind when dealing with injuries of this nature.

More from SB Nation NBA:

• Sunday Shootaround: No panic moves coming for the Suns

• NBA power rankings: Knicks and Nets are climbing

• The Hook: There's no "right" way to win

• Michael Carter-Williams has 76ers ahead of schedule

• Hoosier Hysteria: How the Pacers won back the heart of Indiana