Despite fractured ankle, Favre not counting self out for start No. 292

Brett Favre is not ruling himself out of Sunday's game at New England despite two fractures in his left ankle.

The 41-year-old Favre wore a large, gray walking boot on his left leg to the podium for his regular news conference yesterday, and he said he doesn't anticipate participating in a full practice at all this week.

The Minnesota quarterback said he's always had a knack for healing quickly, which gives him hope he'll be back when the Vikings (2-4) play the Patriots (5-1).

Favre was hurt in Sunday's loss to Green Bay, and an MRI revealed a stress fracture in the ankle as well as an "avulsion" fracture in the heel bone, where a fragment has been torn away by a tendon or ligament. He doesn't need surgery, and he said after consulting with doctors he's confident he can't make the injury worse by playing.

Vikings coach Brad Childress said he won't let Favre play if he looks gimpy.

"I'm going to need to see some movement skills, to see that he can do that," Childress said.

Since taking over as the starter for the Packers in 1992, Favre has played through all kinds of pain - including a broken thumb - and not once has he sat out. His NFL-record streak is at 291 consecutive games started, 315 including the playoffs.

Favre, though, insisted he won't put his pride in the record over the sake of the team.

"I'm very proud of the streak, but it probably should have ended a long time ago," Favre said, adding: "Whether it ends this week or it ends at the end of the year, it ends, and I will always be proud of it."

Favre said the injury hasn't made him consider retiring now and that he's fully committed to finishing the season.

"There's still a lot of football left. We've dug ourselves a hole here. We all know that, for whatever reason," Favre said, adding: "This could easily be an injury where I could where I could say, 'I'm going to slip under the radar. See you later. Easy out.' And people may think that. I want to play, and I want to help this team win. I owe that to the guys. I owe that to myself."

In a related development, Green Bay placed linebacker Brad Jones on injured reserve with a shoulder injury that will require surgery. Jones was injured Sunday against Minnesota. He made the tackle that left Favre limping.

* St. Louis signed former Eagles safety Michael Lewis, released by San Francisco Oct. 1 after skipping a practice and a road trip, reacting to the news he had lost his starting job to rookie Taylor Mays. Lewis played for the Eagles when St. Louis head coach Steve Spagnuolo was their defensive coordinator.

Defensive tackle Clifton Ryan, bothered most of the year by migraine headaches, was placed on injured reserve.

* Kansas City signed former Eagles linebacker Mark Simoneau. Simoneau, 33, hasn't played since he suffered a back injury in 2007. He has 68 starts in 123 career games. He also has played for Atlanta and New Orleans. Terms were not released. The Chiefs released defensive lineman Atiyyah Ellison to make room on the roster.

* Seattle rookie left tackle Russell Okung is still a question mark for Sunday's game at Oakland with a left high-ankle sprain.

* Former Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith will make his first NFL start in 3 years now that San Francisco starting quarterback Alex Smith has been ruled out for 2 to 3 weeks with a separated left shoulder. The 49ers play Denver in London on Sunday.

* Tennessee quarterback Vince Young returned to practice for the first time since spraining his left knee and ankle on Oct. 18. Coach Jeff Fisher says the key to whether Young starts Sunday at San Diego will be how the quarterback is able to move around.