brett favre injury

Brett Favre leaves Packers game against Dallas with elbow injury
8 hours ago

IRVING, Texas - Brett Favre was hopeful about extending his consecutive start streak after he left the Green Bay Packers' 37-27 loss at Dallas on Thursday night with an injured right elbow and separated left shoulder.

Favre was hit hard while throwing a pass that was intercepted in the second quarter, leaving his status for Green Bay's next game against Oakland on Dec. 9 and his NFL-record run of 249 straight starts in question.

"I think I'll be OK," said Favre, who was wearing a bandage over his right arm. "It's fortunate we have a few extra days off. I'll just rest and see."

Favre was hurt with 10:11 left before halftime when he was hit by cornerback Nate Jones. Terence Newman made a diving interception of the fluttering pass.

Favre grabbed his arm and flexed it while walking slowly to the sideline. He didn't even realize he injured his non-throwing shoulder until he went into the dressing room to have some work done on his elbow.

Aaron Rodgers, who was 18-of-26 for 201 yards, took over at quarterback on Green Bay's next possession.

With his right arm covered with a sleeve, Favre returned to the sideline after getting treatment and having an X-ray taken during halftime. He was still wearing his pads, but wore a baseball cap as he watched Rodgers run the Green Bay offence.

Favre said he suffered a similar nerve injury to his right elbow last season, leaving the Packers' 35-0 loss to New England at Lambeau Field. Rodgers relieved Favre in that game, but broke his foot.

He said he lost feeling in his fingers Thursday night and his elbow began to swell.

"I could grip a football," Favre said. "I didn't want to throw and have it go out the back. It wasn't worth the risk."

Favre didn't seem too concerned about the shoulder since that injury isn't to his throwing arm.

"It's one of those things you can shoot up and play with," Favre said.

Rodgers had played in only six games in two-plus seasons before Thursday night. He had thrown only two passes this season.

With 31 seconds left in the first half, Rodgers threw his first career touchdown pass, an 11-yarder to Greg Jennings that got the Packers within 27-17.

Newman's interception set up the Cowboys for Tony Romo's 10-yard touchdown pass to Terrell Owens that gave them a 27-10 lead.

IRVING, Texas ?The sight of Brett Favre holding his limp, lifeless right arm midway through the second quarter wasn't pretty Thursday night at Texas Stadium.

The Packers quarterback had just been blindsided by Nathan Jones, who was unblocked on a cornerback blitz and hit Favre as he released the ball.

The resulting interception was bad enough for the Packers, but it got worse when Favre was slow to get up, had trouble gripping a football and didn't return to field.

The damage report came after the game, when it was revealed Favre lost feeling and experienced swelling in his right elbow and tingling in his fingers.

"If anyone has ever hit their funny bone, imagine hitting it 10 times as hard with a hammer," Favre said in describing the injury after the Cowboys' 37-27 victory.

But wait, there's more. Favre separated his left shoulder on the play.

If ever Favre's streak of 249 consecutive games started (269 including playoffs) was in jeopardy, it would seem to be now.

But Favre, who sustained a similar injury to his elbow last year against New England, thinks that with an extra three days of rest, he can play against the Oakland Raiders a week from Sunday.

He answered the bell last year, just seven days after the Patriots game.

"It's a little more swollen than the last time but in a little different area," Favre said. "It kind of got the nerve, but not as direct as it was last time, so I think I'll be fine."

Leave it to the battered and bruised Favre, who hasn't missed a start in 15 years, to downplay his injuries. Favre said he played with a separated shoulder early in his career and sees no reason why he couldn't do it again.

Favre wasn't blaming anyone but himself for the play on which he got hurt.

"Clearly, that was my fault," he said. "There ain't too many times in my career that I can say that a guy came free (like that)."

It was a rough night all the way around for Favre, who before the injury completed just 5 of 14 passes for 56 yards. His quarterback rating was a meager 8.9, which broke his string of five consecutive games with a rating higher than 100.

Favre's biggest regret is that he couldn't finish what he started.

"I couldn't go back in the game," he said. "Believe me, I wanted to."

Although the Packers fought back valiantly from a 17-point second-quarter deficit behind backup Aaron Rodgers, their rally fell short.

Forget about the defeat for a moment, which dropped the Packers to 10-2 and all but guaranteed the Cowboys (11-1) the homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs.

The injury to Favre is paramount on the Packers' minds. He was having the best season of his 17-year NFL career. He had guided the Packers to their best start in 45 years.

Despite Favre's confidence, there is doubt about not only his availability, but his effectiveness should he return.

Rodgers looked impressive in guiding the Packers to a pair of long touchdown drives that cut a 27-10 deficit to 27-24. He looks like a keeper who one day soon could take over the starting job permanently.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy will have to think long and hard about resting Favre, particularly since the Packers have a 2?game cushion in the battle for a first-round playoff bye.

Based on Rodgers' solid performance, in which he directed three scoring drives, completed 18 of 26 passes for 201 yards and posted a 104.8 QB rating, it wouldn't be a stretch to see him lead the Packers to some victories in the final month of the season.

That would give Favre a chance to get himself healthy for the playoffs. But it also would end his amazing streak.

Mike Vandermause is sports editor of the Press-Gazette.