Brett Favre didn't do any throwing at the Green Bay Packers' practice Monday, a brief workout that was the team's first since taking four days off for the bye week.
But that's no reason to sound the alarm.
Favre, who suffered a cracked thumb in the Week 7 loss to the St. Louis Rams, might not get into any heavy throwing until Thursday, as the Packers prepare for Sunday night's meeting with the Minnesota Vikings.
"I'm not going to jeopardize his ability to throw on Sunday by pushing him too early," GM/Head Coach Mike Sherman said. "But the swelling is down. He feels good (and) very optimistic, as is the doctor. So we just continue with the plan."
Favre is wearing a splint on the injured thumb of his right (throwing) hand, and will continue to wear the brace for as long as possible this week.
Favre could practice as early as Wednesday, and, according to Sherman, even tossed the ball around the Packers' training facility prior to practice Monday.
"No long throws," Sherman said, "but he's gripped the football, feels comfortable with it. So I'm pretty confident about it right now."
Assuming Favre can play through the pain, his teammates have little doubt that he can deliver a solid performance.
Favre is just 2-9 all-time in the Metrodome, but with the 3-4 Packers in desperate need of a win, offensive guard Mike Wahle believes the three-time MVP will be at his best against the Vikings.
"They say you don't want to corner an animal, and maybe it's like that," Wahle said. "Believe me, if there's anything Brett has it's confidence. Otherwise he wouldn't be here or have done the things he's done."
Sherman noted that Favre has historically struggled at the Edward Jones Dome, too, but neither the indoor conditions nor the cracked thumb kept him from completing 23 of 32 attempts en route to a 104.7 quarterback rating two weeks ago.
"I think he takes each game individually," Sherman said. "Obviously (the Metrodome) hasn't been his favorite place, but he looks at everything as a challenge. The thumb, the dome, those are all challenges for him. I think he'll rise to the occasion."
According to Sherman, Favre will likely be listed as probable this week, considering that he finished the team's last game at St. Louis.
The last time Favre was unable to finish a game due to injury was Oct. 20, 2002, when he sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee versus the Washington Redskins.
To date, Favre has started 197 consecutive games (180 regular-season), which is an NFL record among quarterbacks.
