But Kearney believes the time out will be more beneficial for Blair's mental focus, ahead of the Warriors run through the final nine rounds of the regular season.
"Every now and then Adam needs a freshen-up of the mind because he does work himself very, very hard," said Kearney.
"There's nothing wrong with his body. So I think that's the bigger positive to come out of it, it would give him an opportunity to refresh his mind."
Blair's return comes at a vital time with the Warriors expected to be missing injured forwards Tohu Harris (medial knee ligament) and Bunty Afoa (dislocated elbow) for the match against the Panthers in Sydney.
The pair was due to have scans on Monday, but are potentially facing lengthy stints out, as the fifth-placed Warriors fight to reclaim a spot in the top four.
The loss to the Sharks saw the welcome return of versatile forward Jazz Tevaga, who sat out recent wins over the Sea Eagles and Cowboys while recovering from surgery to have a potentially cancerous growth removed from his shoulder.
The 22-year-old got through 53 minutes in his first game in five weeks, making three tackle busts and putting Afoa through a hole with a nicely timed short-ball.
"It's all good. I did my recovery and had a few tests with the surgeon and our physios here last week and pulled up sweet," said Tevaga.
"I was blowing in the first-half, I just needed to get my second-wind and then when I found myself in the game I felt comfortable, but came up with an error which was disappointing. But overall I was happy with it."
Meanwhile, front-rower Albert Vete's mid-season departure to join Melbourne could mean a promotion for one of the Warriors' rising young forwards.
The club have not recruited another player to replace Vete, but may bring one-game rookie Joseph Vuna into their fulltime 30-man NRL squad.
The 19-year-old second-rower or centre made his first grade debut in the Anzac Day defeat to Melbourne, and has played 13 games for the club's Intrust Super Premiership side this season.
