AROUND THE NFL: Vikings hope Brett Favre can play against Bears

Brett Favre’s career isn’t quite over yet. Minnesota Vikings interim Coach Leslie Frazier says the team is hoping to have Favre back this season — and possibly this week.

Favre’s NFL-record streak of starting 297 consecutive starts ended when a sprained throwing shoulder and numb hand kept him out of Monday’s game against the New York Giants.

Frazier said Tuesday that an ultrasound on Favre’s neck and shoulder showed no nerve damage. He said the 41-year-old quarterback’s pain was subsiding and that his recovery was “headed in the right direction.”

Frazier said putting Favre on injured reserve wasn’t “part of the equation” for now.

Backup Tarvaris Jackson has a turf toe injury, and his availability is in doubt for Monday night’s game against the Chicago Bears.

Denver’s Cox faces life in prison

Denver Broncos rookie cornerback Perrish Cox is facing up to life in prison if convicted of sexual assault charges filed by prosecutors last week.

A portion of the case unsealed by a Douglas County judge shows the sexual assault charges are Class 3 and Class 4 felonies, which carry a sentence of between two years to life in prison. They involve a helpless victim. Other details of the case remain sealed.

Cox, who played in the Broncos’ loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, is free on $50,000 bail.

Lawsuit by retired players is tossed out

A federal judge has tossed out a lawsuit by several retired NFL players who are dissatisfied with a $26-million settlement between the NFL union and about 2,000 retirees.

Lawyers representing the retirees agreed to the settlement last year in exchange for the NFL Players Assn. dropping its appeal of a jury verdict. The jury found in 2008 that the union failed to pursue marketing deals on behalf of the retirees.

After the settlement, several retirees accused the plaintiff lawyers of malpractice, saying they settled for too little because of mistakes made at trial.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup dismissed the lawsuit against the law firms Manatt, Phelps & Phillips and McKool Smith.

Eagles sign Burgess

The Philadelphia Eagles signed two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Burgess to replace injured rookie Brandon Graham.

Burgess, drafted by the Eagles in 2001, returned to Philadelphia on Tuesday after being out of the NFL this season. He was released by New England before the season.

Burgess, 32, has 52 sacks, including a league-high 16 with Oakland in 2005.

Graham, the 13th overall pick in this year’s draft, tore a right knee ligament in Philadelphia’s win at Dallas on Sunday.

No playoffs for nine teams

Nine teams have been eliminated from playoff contention as the NFL heads into Week 15.

Out of the running are Washington, Minnesota, Detroit, Dallas and Carolina in the NFC. Gone from the AFC are Buffalo, Cincinnati, Cleveland and Denver.

On the verge of elimination are Houston (5-8), Tennessee (5-8) and Arizona (4-9). Although San Francisco also is 5-8, it trails first-place St. Louis and Seattle by only one game in the NFC West with three remaining.

New England (11-2) has secured a playoff berth.

Etc.

Cleveland signed defensive back Coye Francies to the active roster, waived defensive back Eric King and signed linebacker Eric Bakhtiari to the practice squad. … Washington cut the holder who mishandled the extra-point try in the Redskins’ one-point loss to Tampa Bay on Sunday, putting Hunter Smith on waivers and signing Sam Paulescu, who takes over as punter and holder. … Carolina put left guard Travelle Wharton, defensive end Everette Brown and linebacker Jason Williams on injured reserve, leaving the Panthers with 14 players lost to season-ending injuries. Defensive tackle Corvey Irvin and cornerback R.J. Stanford were promoted to the 53-man roster from the practice squad. … Tampa Bay put defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and linebacker Quincy Black on injured reserve. Defensive end George Johnson and linebacker Tyrone McKenzie were promoted from the practice squad to fill the roster spots. … Tackle Vernon Carey has been put on injured reserve by the Miami Dolphins, who signed receiver Kevin Curtis. … Pittsburgh tight end Heath Miller passed his post-concussion neurological tests and will return to practice Wednesday. … Tennessee put starting center Eugene Amano on injured reserve because of a neck injury and signed defensive tackle Malcolm Sheppard from Houston’s practice squad.