He wants to bring someone in on loan as cover for first-choice centre-backs Andy Crosby and Andy Butler.
Crosby will serve a one-match ban if he collects another booking, while backup defender Izzy Iriekpen is due to start a three-match suspension after being sent off for violent conduct in a reserve game.
Adkins told the Scunthorpe Telegraph: "It is a major concern for us, we have been trying to make something happen.
"We want to bring another body into the building as cover for that position."