Brett Favre didn't see any live action in the Packers' first practice since the bye week Wednesday, but even if it's too soon to say definitively that he will be the team's starting quarterback Monday night against the Miami Dolphins, it's also too soon to say that he won't.
Back from a five-day layoff, during which Favre rehabbed his sprained left knee at the University of Southern Mississippi, near his offseason home in Hattiesburg, Miss., Favre did some running Wednesday morning and then practiced his quarterback drops at the afternoon practice.
"Today was just kind of a small step," Favre said. "Maybe I could have done more, but I don't know that for sure. Believe it or not, I'm taking the doctor's advice and taking it slow. From my standpoint it feels like I can go, like full-steam, and I know that's pushing it."
Favre is listed as 'questionable' on the team's injury report, meaning there is a 50-percent chance that he will play Monday night.
Packers GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman said he expects Favre to practice at some point this week, but didn't put a date on Favre's participation.
"We'll have to wait and see how the knee responds to (Wednesday's workout)," Sherman said. "It's a day-to-day issue in regard to that because if his knee responds poorly to today's activity, then it's a setback. If he responds well, then we're right on course."
Favre refused to speculate whether his recovery was ahead or behind schedule, but did indicate that Wednesday's workout did nothing to dissuade his confidence that he can start Monday night.
"I expect to play, but I expected to play last week," Favre said. "With that in mind, I didn't do much today, so I don't know if you can base it off what I did today."
Even if Favre weren't able to practice this week, it wouldn't make him unavailable against Miami. In fact, the previous two times Favre left a game due to injury, he was a game-time decision the following week, but managed to lead the Packers to victory.
Most recently, Favre followed an ankle injury against Tampa Bay with a 301-yard, two-touchdown effort against the Indianapolis Colts during the 2000 season. Prior to that, in 1995, Favre torched the Chicago Bears for 336 yards and five touchdowns only a week after injuring his ankle against Minnesota.
Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt remembers the 1995 game well, as it was one of Favre's 11 victories over the Bears while he was Chicago's head coach.
Said Wannstedt, "He kind of gimped down the ramp and there was no way the guy was going to play or move around and he threw five touchdown passes. I have a tough time getting that out of my mind, to be honest."
If Favre is able to play Monday, he'll make his 165th consecutive regular season start, continuing what is already an NFL record for quarterbacks and the longest active streak in the league at any position.
"Knowing Brett the way I do, he's going to do everything he can to be in that game," seventh-year guard Marco Rivera said. "I can't even fathom him not being there Monday night. I think he's going to be there. If it takes him rehabbing all week and getting ready, that's what he'll do."
