The triple Lions tourist was rumoured to have broken his jaw and was expected to be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
But Leinster have now indicated that the injury is not as bad as at first feared, although the province are yet to confirm when they expect their star centre to be fit for action.
O'Driscoll will continue to receive medical treatment but it now seems possible that he could be available for selection later this month.
The 31-year-old isn't in the squad for this evening's trip to the Scarlets but he could yet be involved in the festive fixtures at Ulster on December 27 and at home to Connacht on New Year's Day.
But while news on O'Driscoll is a major boost for Leinster, Kearney's injury situation is far less encouraging.
The Ireland international has become a permanent fixture in the Leinster first XV in recent years and was a central figure in their journey to last season's inaugural Magners League Grand Final.
Kearney has undergone knee surgery and will be out of action for the foreseeable future, with Leinster still unable to set a return date for the full back.
"After his surgery last week, Rob Kearney seems set to sit out the next few months on the sidelines," read a Leinster statement.
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