Favre: Ankle injury not ‘debilitating’

Associated Press

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn.

The annual waiting game to see whether Brett Favre returns to the NFL got a bit more complicated Friday.

The 40-year-old quarterback said in a statement posted on his website that he needs surgery on his left ankle in order to play this season for the Minnesota Vikings. But he said he’s had surgery on it twice before, the injury “is not debilitating” and he’s come through far worse in his long career.

“I don’t believe major surgery on the ankle would be required for me to return in 2010,” Favre said. “I’ve consulted with Dr. [James] Andrews on the phone, and a relatively minor procedure could be done to improve the dexterity of the ankle, and to relieve the pain. I’ve put up with pain worse than this in my career, and I didn’t want anyone to assume that the possibility of surgery was the sole factor that would determine whether I return or not.”

Currently holding all the NFL’s major career passing records, Favre will turn 41 in October.

Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.