EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. » Brett Favre’s ironman streak has endured many injuries and even two premature retirement press conferences.

Perhaps this is the week that, finally, Favre’s health prevents him from playing.

The 41-year-old Minnesota quarterback has a stress fracture in his left ankle that could end his NFL-record streak at 291 consecutive games started — 315 including the playoffs.

Vikings coach Brad Childress said yesterday an MRI on Favre’s foot revealed the stress fracture as well as an "avulsion" fracture in the heel bone. An avulsion fracture occurs when a fragment of bone is torn away by a tendon or ligament. Childress said neither injury requires surgery.

"He’s got great pain threshold and also great competitive zeal," Childress said, succinctly summing up Favre’s legacy of durability.

Favre is also the subject of an NFL investigation into allegations that he sent lewd photographs and suggestive messages to a female New York Jets employee in 2008, a development that first put his streak in danger with the possibility of a suspension under the league’s personal conduct policy. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said yesterday there was nothing to report about the investigation.

For this week, it appears Favre’s biggest problem will be figuring out a way to heal fast enough to face New England on Sunday.

"He’s got to be able to do all the things that his position does," Childress said. "You can’t put a guy that’s a sitting duck out there. His competitive nature I’m sure will come into it. But a lot of times you’ve got to protect people from themselves."

Favre had arthroscopic surgery on the ankle in May, and he received a series of lubricating injections in the joint at the beginning of the season. The ankle has bothered him at times this fall, but he hurt it in Sunday’s 28-24 loss at Green Bay as he was being tackled from behind while throwing the first of three interceptions against the Packers.

Favre was limping around during the game and walking gingerly afterward, and Childress said he was wearing a walking boot around the practice facility yesterday to make him more comfortable.

He refused to rule Favre out of this week’s game, which would likely mean a start by Tarvaris Jackson.

Bush to test his leg this week

METAIRIE, La. » The Saints’ Reggie Bush expressed optimism yesterday that he would be able to practice this week on his healing right leg and possibly play on Sunday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The running back, who has missed five games since fracturing his right fibula in Week 2, says team doctors have told him he has healed enough to test his leg at full speed.

Bush said his plan was to try to do that when the Saints return to practice tomorrow.

Garrard expects to be cleared

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. » The "cloud coverage" has cleared, and quarterback David Garrard is ready to return for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Almost.

Garrard still has to pass post-concussion tests today to be cleared to practice and play for the Jaguars (3-4).

"Once I pass those, then everything will be good," Garrard said.

Speaking for the first time since his concussion last Monday night against Tennessee, Garrard said he failed the NFL-mandated tests Friday.

"It was really just a cloud coverage thing," he said. "It wasn’t partly cloudy. It wasn’t semi-cloudy. It was a total cloud coverage. But now I feel great. I feel like my normal self. But we’re going to be smart and make sure that it’s not you just got over the clouds but they’re still back there lingering or something."

Device enhances fans’ experience

Fans in a dozen NFL cities are using a new handheld device at games that allows them to see replays from angles not available on television, follow their fantasy lineups in real time, check out other games via NFL Red Zone and see updated stats from the game they’re attending.

FanVision is a wireless device that streams live football on a digital TV channel. It retails for $200 and is not quite half the size of an iPad, with buttons on the side to navigate among football games, features and functions.

Rams’ Jackson has finger surgery

ST. LOUIS » St. Louis running back Steven Jackson set the franchise rushing record over the weekend — despite playing with a broken finger.

Coach Steve Spagnuolo said Jackson had surgery on his left ring finger yesterday.

The Rams said two pins were put into the finger, and his status for this Sunday’s home game against Carolina was unknown.