Less than two hours after he'd been carted off Lambeau Field with a sprained left knee, Brett Favre said it was too soon to be able to say whether or not he would be able to play in the Packers' next game.
Thankfully for the Packers, there are two weeks to make that determination.
Coming up on their bye week, the Packers don't play again until they host the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football, November 4.
"It's an injury, from what I understand, it is possible to play with, especially since we don't play again for two weeks," Favre said. "I'm not going to sit here and say I'm going to play (against Miami). I expect to, but it's just kind of a wait and see thing."
Packers GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman also said that he had not ruled out the possibility of Favre being able to start the Packers' next game. Favre will undergo an MRI Monday, after which a better assessment of the injury would be available.
The injury occurred on the Packers' second possession of the third quarter. Facing second-and-6 at Green Bay's 24-yard-line, Favre rolled right out of the pocket but was met by Washington's LaVar Arrington. As Arrington tackled Favre to the ground, Favre's left leg twisted underneath him.
He hobbled most of the way off the field under his own power before being met by the Packers' medical staff. After undergoing tests on the sideline, Favre was carted off the field to a standing ovation at Lambeau Field.
Favre said he was told by Dr. Patrick McKenzie that he had a possible tear of his lateral collateral ligament (LCL).
Initially, Favre said he felt strong enough to return to the game, but that McKenzie explained he would risk damaging his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) if his LCL was unstable. An ACL injury would likely cost Favre the rest of his season.
"As much as I wanted to play, that information there was enough to not fight it," Favre said.
When Favre met with the media after the game, his left knee was heavily taped, but he was walking gingerly under his own power.
"It's not real painful now, it was more painful when it actually happened," Favre said of his knee. "That's the deceiving part of it. Once I got to the sideline, it felt a little bit better, which I understand knee injuries are kind of that way.
"It still hurts and it's real stiff right now. The concern is that even though there is a little bit of pain, you have no stability. Whatever ligament is torn, you lose stability there and then further damage is done easily by no stability. When Dr. McKenzie said that, I understood.
"He said there would probably be more pain, probably not as bad as the initial injury, but there will be more pain tomorrow, more stiffness, more swelling. It's more of a two- or three-day period and then it's more strengthening -- to see if the ligament can come back."
If Favre were unable to play, it would mark the first time in 167 games that the Packers would be without their legendary quarterback. Favre's teammates were optimistic that the 33-year-old would be in uniform against Miami.
"I really haven't talked to him, I haven't had the opportunity, but knowing Brett, he'll bounce back," center Frank Winters said. "If anyone can get ready to play in two weeks, he'll be the guy. I'm sure he'll be out there in two weeks and we'll go from there . . . He's a tough guy. He's played in pain throughout his whole career."
If Favre weren't able to return, he would be replaced by Doug Pederson. Pederson -- who in addition to being the backup quarterback is also the holder on special teams -- hadn't attempted a pass since the 2000 season until a high snap on a first-quarter field goal try forced him to throw the ball away Sunday.
After Favre's injury, Pederson came on to complete 9 passes for 14 passes for 78 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions.
Offensive guard Marco Rivera said the team would be in good hands with Pederson.
"It hurts that (Favre) went down, but if Doug's going to go in there, he's going to play hard," Rivera said. "He's been a starter in this league. He knows what he's doing and he knows the offense. We have good personnel. We're going to keep plugging away and whatever happens, happens."
