Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress announced that quarterback Brett Favre's left ankle is in a walking boot and is questionable for next Sunday's game against the New England Patriots.

Childress adds that Favre has an avulsion fracture, which the Mayo Clinic says "occurs when a ligament or tendon attached to a bone pulls away a piece (fragment) of the bone", of the calcaneus, or heel bone, and a stress fracture. (Do not scroll down on that link if you don't want to see surgical photos of a calcaneus fracture)

Surgery is required only in cases with "serious tendon or ligament damage" in addition to the fracture.

Favre has started an NFL-record 291 consecutive games, which Childress said will not be a factor in determining who the starting quarterback is this Sunday.