Favre uncertain if injured ankle will limit him

[September 25, 2008]  FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) -- Brett Favre was uncertain Wednesday how limited he'll be by a sore ankle during practices this week.

The 38-year-old Favre, who has started an NFL record for quarterbacks 256 straight regular-season games, rolled the ankle in the third quarter of the Jets' 48-29 loss at San Diego on Monday night. New York hosts Arizona on Sunday.

"He's going to go out and work, and I anticipate him playing on Sunday," coach Eric Mangini said, echoing his comments from a day earlier.

Favre gingerly stretched at the start of practice, and limped slightly as he warmed up with the other quarterbacks and later while tossing passes to receivers. He was listed as limited at practice on the team's injury report Wednesday afternoon.

"I'm doing everything I can to get ready," Favre said shortly before practice. "How it will affect me during the course of the week or Sunday remains to be seen."

Favre has been open about how he's felt physically since signing with the Jets in August, but wouldn't go into details when asked how limited he expected to be this week.

"Time will tell," he said. "I've been down this road before, not only with ankle injuries but with a lot of injuries. I respect Eric and he wants us to refer those questions to him, and I respect that."

After the game against the Chargers, Favre said he anticipated the ankle to feel "terrible" on Tuesday.

"Yeah, it felt sore," he said. "It felt like I thought it would."

When asked how the ankle felt Wednesday, Favre offered only: "Feels better. Tomorrow, we'll talk tomorrow."

Favre normally addresses the media only on Wednesdays and before games.

"Being that I need the work today, as well as any other day, mentally has got to be the most important thing," he said. "It's a short week and we're kind of cramming a lot of stuff in. I'm not really concerned about lack of or how much practice I would (miss). I'm going to try to do some things today and see. I think more it's mentally that's what's most important."

Favre has established a reputation for playing through pain, as evidenced by his streak. He played through a broken thumb in 2003, so a twisted ankle isn't likely to sideline the NFL's iron man.

"I would hope I would never go into a game and play to continue a streak even though I felt like I would hamper the team with this injury or a broken thumb or whatever," he said. "My philosophy has always been: If you feel like you can play and not hinder the team one bit, then at least try. Why not try? I think I owe that to not only my teammates, but to myself. That's the way I've always looked at it."

Favre was lifted for Kellen Clemens before the Jets' final offensive possession at San Diego, but it was more because the game was out of hand at that point -- not because of the injury.

"I didn't come here, first of all, to lose," he said. "I didn't come in here to get hurt and sit and watch."

He was inconsistent against the Chargers, going 30-of-42 for 271 yards and three touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions, including one returned 52 yards for a score.

Many people have said the inconsistencies are a result of Favre struggling to grasp the Jets' offensive system and get on the same page as his receivers.

"I don't think that has anything to do with newness," said Favre, whose 98.7 quarterback rating is third in the AFC. "I think we have to, at some point, write that off. My wife said when I got home that all the commentators kept talking about, 'There's no way Brett can get this offense down in 30 days.' You know, you've got to let it go. You've got to let it go. We had enough ammo."

With the Jets struggling at 1-2 and facing the surprising Cardinals this weekend, Favre realizes that some fans may have already become disenchanted.

"I've won way more games than I've lost," he said. "I don't anticipate that changing. I don't anticipate the way I prepare and the way I practice and the way I carry myself as a teammate to change. I would hope that the rest of us do the same.

"I really believe we have the guys that will do that. It's just a matter of when we believe as one that we have that edge about us, that, 'Hey, as long as we do what we're supposed to do, play at a high level, we'll be fine.'"

In other injury news, nose tackle Kris Jenkins didn't appear to be favoring his back, which kept him out for most of the game Monday night. The run-stopping veteran ran through agility and defensive line drills without incident, but did not participate in regular practice. Mangini anticipates him playing against the Cardinals.

[Associated Press; By DENNIS WASZAK Jr.]

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