We know this: Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre has a badly injured left ankle. He has a stress fracture and an avulsion fracture. Just how injured it is and the odds of him playing on it appear to be up for debate. In a Tuesday column, Sports Illustrated's Peter King spoke with a top NFL team orthopedist -- one who has not examined Favre's feet -- who said the ailment shouldn't snap Favre's steak of 291 consecutive games played. "I think it's extremely misleading to say he has two ankle fractures and leave that impression," the orthopedist said. "Technically, with what I have read, he does. But you are not playing an NFL game with two fractures in the sense that we think of fractures." The nature of the stress fracture seems to be especially inexact. The orthopedist said: "It's a glorified ankle sprain." And with the avulsion fracture of the calcaneus, or heel area, he said a simple injection can help cover the pain. "I don't believe [the calcaneus] is a critical structure at all." In all, the orthopedist thinks Favre will be able to play Sunday in New England and that if this were a playoff week, most NFL QBs would suit up with Favre's injury.

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It's just one doctor's opinion. Still, it's encouraging for Favre owners to read this after a bunch pundits opined that Favre would likely miss this game. Odds are he won't practice all week, so don't read into that inactivity much. He will be a true game-time decision against the Patriots. Tavaris Jackson said he's ready to step in if Favre needs a rest, but if a quarterback is going to play through pain, it's going to be Favre. Right now, I think Favre will be active just because there seems to be a sliver of hope that he can actually play. That's all Brett needs. But the final decision rests with Brad Childress. Or at least, it should. He is the head coach after all. I know Favre probably doesn't want to hear that.