Sports: Hobbling Favre expects to be ready Sunday

Hobbling Favre expects to be ready Sunday

By Compiled from Times wires

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Packers' Brett Favre insists he will play Sunday despite a sprained foot that had threatened to end his streak of 135 starts, an NFL record for quarterbacks.

Tests on Monday showed no serious damage to Favre's left foot, which was hurt on a sack by Bucs defensive tackle Warren Sapp in the third quarter of Green Bay's 20-15 loss. Favre limped off and didn't return.

The three-time league MVP said Monday that the sprain will not keep him from starting at home against the Colts.

Packers coach Mike Sherman said he wasn't convinced Favre will be healthy enough to play. Favre probably won't practice until at least Thursday, the coach said.

"I didn't think there was a chance," Sherman said. "I'm encouraged that it has improved. He says he's playing on Sunday. That remains to be seen. Knowing him, he'll do everything he can to get into that game on Sunday."

Backup Matt Hasselbeck will work as the starter during practice until Favre returns. Hasselbeck completed 9 of 18 passes for 93 yards and a touchdown against Tampa Bay.

Meanwhile, Packers receiver Antonio Freeman was fined $458 and will have his driver's license suspended for 15 days after missing a hearing on a speeding ticket.

THOMAS OUT FOR SEASON: Dolphins running back Thurman Thomas will miss the rest of the season with a torn ligament in his right knee and might consider retiring.

The 34-year-old Thomas will rehabilitate over the next month before deciding whether to have surgery, Miami coach Dave Wannstedt said.

Thomas, who missed 11 games last season with a bruised liver, was unavailable for comment because Wannstedt gave the players the day off. After Sunday's game, the 13-year veteran said he might end his career if the injury were serious.

The Dolphins also re-signed third-string quarterback Mike Quinn three days after waiving him to fill a void at linebacker.

Meanwhile, the starting time of Miami's Nov. 26 game at the Colts was changed from 1 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

BEARS: Quarterback Jim Miller, out for the season with a ruptured Achilles' tendon, will be replaced by Shane Matthews, Chicago's only healthy quarterback. The former Florida standout will start at home Sunday against the Bucs.

BENGALS: Akili Smith, who has the lowest quarterback rating in the NFL, will be benched in favor of Scott Mitchell on Sunday against New England. Smith hasn't thrown a touchdown in six games.

BILLS: Rob Johnson will start at quarterback against the Chiefs on Sunday, his first start since injuring his throwing shoulder in a win over San Diego on Oct. 15, coach Wade Phillips said. Doug Flutie was 3-1 as starter with wins over Chicago, New England and the Jets.

CHARGERS: The healthiest quarterback available to start Sunday at Denver is Jim Harbaugh, who has a mild hernia. Harbaugh was the emergency No. 3 quarterback Sunday because of the injury but played because if injuries to Moses Moreno and Ryan Leaf.

COWBOYS: Quarterback Troy Aikman might be fined for bumping a referee in Sunday's win over the Cardinals. Aikman was trying to get Ed Hochuli's attention to call timeout late in the second quarter when his arms went into the referee's chest.

JAGUARS: Coach Tom Coughlin still was fuming about the last play of Sunday's game, in which Mark Brunell threw incomplete into the end zone. Alvis Whitted was the intended receiver, but he was confused about Brunell's audible, the route he was supposed to run and the spot at which he was lined up. "Some guys have the poise to do things without a problem," Coughlin said. "Others need to have multiple reps and multiple understanding, and that's basically the case here. It's a difficult thing to have to put that player in that situation to win a game. But that's what it's about at this level."

LIONS: After a week as coach, Gary Moeller emphasized that he has not thought about replacing struggling quarterback Charlie Batch, who has thrown one touchdown in the past month. "We're going to get a lot better at quarterback in the next few weeks, and we are going to do it with Charlie Batch," he said.

PATRIOTS: Less than two years after sustaining severe nerve, ligament and artery damage in his left leg on a beach in Hawaii, Robert Edwards returned to Foxboro Stadium and said he hopes to participate in summer training camp. He planned to see doctors today to determine how to proceed with his rehabilitation.

RAMS: Rookie running back Trung Canidate is out for the season with a broken right wrist.

SEAHAWKS: Quarterback Jon Kitna might be benched again despite throwing three touchdowns against Jacksonville. Brock Huard, who has missed three games because of a concussion, is expected to be ready to start Nov. 26 against Denver. Seattle has a bye this week.

TITANS: Backup quarterback Neil O'Donnell was hospitalized with a severe viral infection. O'Donnell, who has been fighting the infection for the past few days, probably will spend a couple of days in the hospital, coach Jeff Fisher said.