Richmond forward Rhyan Mansell will miss the start of 2024 after suffering an injury in the Tiger's match simulation against Melbourne on Sunday.

The club confirmed scans have revealed a moderate-grade syndesmosis injury for the 23-year-old, ruling him out for their season opener against Gold Coast on March 9.

The Tigers said the timeline around his availability after the Opening Round is expected in the coming days.

Mansell was spotted in a moon boot on Monday.

He told Channel 9 the club played things carefully with the lower-leg complaint.

"(I'm feeling) a little bit of flat, but it's a long season," Mansell said.

"(It) didn't feel too great…I tried to go back out of there and just didn't want to risk hurting it even more.

Mansell signed a one-year contract extension at the end of the 2023 season after featuring consistently in the senior side with 17 games across the campaign.

The Tasmanian arrived a Punt Road as a Supplemental Period selection ahead of the 2021 season, and played 13 games that year.

Mansell copped a three-match ban for a high-bump on Fremantle's James Aish mid-way through last year.