NFL | Vikings' Favre looks sharp in exhibition victory

HOUSTON — Brett Favre's ribs appear to be fine. He took plenty of hits and also delivered one.

Adrian Peterson scored from 75 yards on the game's first play, Favre played three quarters despite saying he might have an injured rib and the Minnesota Vikings beat the Houston Texans 17-10 in an exhibition game Monday night.

In his second game since unretiring less than two weeks earlier, Favre was 13 of 18 for 142 yards and a 113.7 passer rating. Favre, 39, told ESPN before the game he thinks he has a cracked rib, but didn't look to be in pain while getting sacked twice and taking numerous hits.

Indeed, after the game, Favre said, "There is nothing you can do about it, first of all. Secondly, I don't believe it is [cracked]. It doesn't feel great, but I think I will be fine."

Favre, who played for the New York Jets last season, drew a penalty for an illegal block to the knee of Houston's Eugene Wilson when he lined up wide in the wildcat formation in the third quarter. Wilson was injured on the play.

Notes

• Quarterback Kevin O'Connell, projected to be Tom Brady's backup, was cut by New England.

O'Connell's release came three days after Brady had a sore shoulder as the result of a tackle by Washington's Albert Haynesworth. On Monday, Brady stretched with teammates.

• New England linebacker Tedy Bruschi, 36, announced his retirement after 13 seasons and three Super Bowl titles.

• Osi Umenyiora, Pro Bowl defensive end for the New York Giants, left work after a disagreement with defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan, according to sources. Sheridan was apparently critical of him while reviewing plays from Saturday's exhibition loss to the New York Jets.

After his AWOL afternoon, Umenyiora returned to the team's complex in the evening.

"I made a mistake by leaving the facility," he said in a statement issued by the team.

• Kansas City quarterback Matt Cassel injured his left knee in Saturday's 14-10 exhibition loss to the Seahawks but team officials weren't discussing specifics. Yahoo Sports, citing a source in the Chiefs organization, reported Cassel could miss from two to four weeks.

• Kansas City, which is coached by Todd Haley, reassigned offensive coordinator Chan Gailey to unspecified duties not related to coaching. First-year coach Haley previously was offensive coordinator for the Arizona Cardinals and plans to call plays for the Chiefs.

• Pittsburgh right guard Darnell Stapleton, 23, has been placed on injured reserve with a left-knee injury and will miss the season. Trai Essex, 26, will begin the season at right guard.

Meanwhile, Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel, 30, signed a five-year contract.

• Baltimore Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle, 33, will spend at least the opening six weeks of the season on the physically unable to perform list with a neck injury that reportedly could end his career.

• San Francisco linebacker Ahmad Brooks had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee to remove a small bone fragment, a procedure that likely will keep him out the season opener Sept. 13 at Arizona.

• Defensive back Rod Hood, 27, a starter for Arizona in last season's Super Bowl loss to Pittsburgh, has been released by the Cleveland Browns.