Favre expected to start and extend his streak

Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre is expected to start against the Oakland Raiders on Dec. 9 and keep alive his record streak for consecutive starts.

“Just to quote the medical staff, his streak is not in danger. He’ll be OK,� Coach Mike McCarthy said Friday, the day after Favre was knocked out of the Packers’ 37-27 loss at Dallas because of elbow and shoulder injuries.

His streak, which dates to 1992, stands at 249 games (269 including playoffs) and is a league record for quarterbacks.

McCarthy said Favre would have re-entered the game Thursday night had something happened to Aaron Rodgers, who played in relief the last 2 1/2 quarters.

Favre was diagnosed Friday with a bruised right elbow. He also aggravated a separated left shoulder, which he originally injured 15 years ago, on a hit by blitzing Dallas cornerback Nate Jones during the second quarter.

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Running back Shaun Alexander will start for the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at Philadelphia after practicing for the third day in a row following a 3 1/2 -week absence because of a sprained knee.

Exactly how much Alexander will play remains unclear. He also has a broken left wrist and will wear a cast in the game.

Coach Mike Holmgren said that backup Maurice Morris will get more carries than he usually would when Alexander starts. Morris has averaged 85 yards rushing while starting the last three games -- all Seahawks wins.

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Quarterback Daunte Culpepper is listed as questionable for the Raiders’ game Sunday against the Denver Broncos after sitting out practice because of a sore quadriceps. Josh McCown took the majority of snaps with the first team despite having two dislocated joints in his left pinkie and would start against the Broncos if Culpepper can’t.

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Quarterback Vinny Testaverde is listed as probable for the Carolina Panthers’ game Sunday against San Francisco after making it through an entire week of practice.

“Our hopes are high,� Coach John Fox said. “Out of respect for our [quarterback] situation, I will wait and see. This is not being coy. This time last week I said Vinny looked good . . . and then there was Saturday.�

That’s when Testaverde, after a week of working with the first team in practice, woke up with a bad back and was unable to play against the New Orleans Saints.

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New York Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery was ruled out for Sunday’s game at Miami because of an injured right index finger.

Cotchery was hurt during practice Monday and hasn’t been on the field or in the locker room since.

The nature and severity of the injury was not immediately known. It will be the first game Cotchery will sit out since his rookie season in 2004.

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Running back Ahman Green, who has a knee injury, will sit out his third consecutive game when the Houston Texans play the Tennessee Titans. Ron Dayne will start in his place.