GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Brett Favre used both railings as he left the podium late Sunday night in the bowels of Lambeau Field, putting no weight on the troublesome left ankle he tweaked in the third quarter of the Minnesota Vikings' 28-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Favre didn't miss a snap after Packers linebacker Brad Jones pulled him down from behind, contributing to an off-target pass A.J. Hawk intercepted, and received no significant medical attention on the sideline.
But the 41-year-old quarterback spent time after the drive squeezing and bending the ankle, and he spoke in uncertain terms after the game about his chances for playing next week at New England.
"Who knows?" Favre said. "Really, who knows? I hope I do. It'll be tough to get over this loss, as it's tough to get over any loss. But I've got to find a way to do it.
"The reality is, if I can play but not be effective, then it's not worth playing. I hope I use good judgment. We'll see. I'm no spring chicken anymore. I don't heal as quickly.
"I know the heart's in the right place though. I know I left it on the field. It's just disappointing it didn't work our way."
Favre sat in his locker for an extended period before speaking with reporters, tears in his eyes as teammates stopped by to console him. He finished 16-of-29 passing for 212 yards with a touchdown, three interceptions and a 50.4 passer rating in his first loss to his longtime team.
Based at least in part on the way Favre was moving, Vikings coach Brad Childress said he thought about pulling him after the following series, which ended with Favre gift-wrapping an interception Packers linebacker Desmond Bishop returned 32 yards for a touchdown.
"I was going to give him that next series," Childress said, "and he took us and moved us down the field" for a 58-yard touchdown drive.
Childress was particularly critical of Favre's decision on the throw Bishop intercepted. Childress and Favre both said Percy Harvin was wide open on the other side.
"It still goes back to taking care of the football," Childress said. "You can't throw it to them. You've got to play within the confines of our system. Sometimes, it's OK to punt the football, and you can't give seven points going the other way. Not in a game like this. Not with a high-powered team."