According to TV3 via Football Espana, Puyol is expected to miss at least three weeks, which will keep him out of Barca's first-leg matchup with Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals this spring.
Diario Sport has the timetable for Puyol's return closer to a month, according to Football Espana, which would mean he would miss both legs of Barca's upcoming Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain.
The 34-year-old defender has played with Barcelona since 1999 and has made nearly 600 appearances for the club over that time. Before joining Barca more than a decade ago, he starred for the club's reserve team.
Puyol has two goals in 22 appearances for Barca in 2012-13.
The veteran came on late in the 76th minute for Barcelona in Tuesday's 4-0 drubbing of AC Milan in the second leg of the two teams' UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tilt. He played close to 90 minutes in the first leg against AC Milan back in February.
With some huge matches upcoming, manager Tito Vilanova will need his other defenders to step up in Puyol's absence over the next few weeks. With talented players at the back in Dani Alves, Gerard Pique and Jordi Alba, Barca isn't doomed by any means. But it's safe to say that the road to the UEFA Champions League title just got a whole lot more difficult.