Recent history -- not to mention the calendar -- might create some skepticism today, but various news outlets around the National Football League are reporting that Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre is going to retire for the third time.

The Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Fox Sports and others are reporting that Favre informed the Vikings late last night that he will not play, presumably because his surgically-repaired left ankle has not responded during off-season workouts.

A year ago, Favre told the Vikings he was retiring days before training camp opened and changed his mind Aug. 18, joining the team after the first exhibition game and piloting the purple to a berth in the NFC Championship Game, where Favre's late interception against New Orleans torpedoed hopes of a Super Bowl appearance.

Favre, who turns 41 on Oct. 10, enjoyed one of his best seasons in 2009, throwing for 4,202 yards, 33 touchdowns and a career-low seven interceptions. He is in the second year of a two-year, $25 million contract that would pay him $13 million to play this year.

The fact that Favre missed much of camp with the Vikings last year and the Jets the year before, and has been throwing passes to wide receivers at Oak Grove High School near his home in Hattiesburg, Miss., prompted many to believe that his return was a forgone conclusion.

But, the ankle injury has been a concern.

"After almost nine weeks, (the ankle is) not where I would like it to be, but I'm working at it," Favre was quoted as saying last month. "Maybe it never gets to where I want it to be. Forty years old ... three surgeries ... that's all you need to know."

The Packers are to play the Vikings Oct. 24 at Lambeau Field. If Favre does not return, it's likely that Tavaris Jackson will start for Minnesota.

Jackson is 10-10 in his career as a starter.