MANKATO, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell says Brett Favre will play this season if his ankle allows it.

Bevell spoke on Wednesday after a morning practice in Mankato. He has been close friends with Favre dating back to when Bevell was the quarterbacks coach for the Green Bay Packers.

Bevell says he has spoken to the 40-year-old quarterback recently, but not in the last 24 hours. He says it's been his understanding all along that if Favre's surgically repaired left ankle heals well enough, Favre will return to play for the Vikings this season.

Favre's agent, Bus Cook, also said Wednesday that Favre plans to play if his health holds up. He says Favre will visit his surgeon, Dr. James Andrews, next week.

Earlier this week, a person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that Favre had told the team he wasn't going to return for a second season in Minnesota.

Earlier Brett Favre hit the practice field at Oak Grove High School in Hattiesburg.

Favre did not appear to be working out Wednesday morning, but simply ran onto the field and began lightly tossing the ball with players in warmups. He then helped an assistant coach as the players went through drills.

The quarterback made no comments to reporters before taking the field.

Favre has made regular appearances at Oak Grove in the summer for several years, working out with players during informal summer drills as he prepared for the upcoming season.