With Brett Favre nursing a sprained throwing shoulder and a numb hand, and backup Tarvaris Jackson also banged up, the Minnesota Vikings signed nine-year veteran quarterback Patrick Ramsey, the *St. Paul Pioneer Press* reported Wednesday.
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For now, the Vikings won't end Favre's season, and perhaps his storied career, by putting him on injured reserve.
"I don't see that as being part of the equation at this point," Frazier said. "It looks like there's a chance that we're going to be able to get him back at some point. Hopefully this week."
Frazier actually sounded more optimistic about Favre's availability for Monday night's game against the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears than he did about the status of Jackson, who started in the 21-3 loss to the New York Giants last Monday.
Jackson twice left the game with an injury, the second time because of a turf toe problem that Frazier said has put the quarterback's availability "in jeopardy" for this week. Jackson leaned heavily on a railing to get up steps toward the locker room after the game.
"That's a difficult injury, particularly when you're a skill-position guy like he is," Frazier said. "So we'll see what happens with that."
Next in line would be rookie Joe Webb, who was going to be used as a wide receiver until the decision was made to make him a quarterback. He hurt his hamstring during a Dec. 5 game against the Buffalo Bills, and he's a sixth-round draft pick whose athletic ability can't mask the fact that he's raw and inexperienced with running the offense. Wide receiver Greg Camarillo was Minnesota's emergency quarterback Monday.
"The circumstances are so unique that we have to think about the now as opposed to long term with Joe," Frazier said. "If he's our best available option, then he'll be the guy that's quarterbacking for us."
Ramsey, 31, signed with the Miami Dolphins on Nov. 15 after the team lost both Chad Pennington and Chad Henne to injuries during a 29-17 victory over the Tennessee Titans, but he was released two weeks later.
Ramsey has bounced around the league since his four-year stint with the Washington Redskins ended in 2005. In October, he was signed and released by the Jacksonville Jaguars over the course of a week. He has thrown 35 touchdown passes and 31 interceptions in his career, with a rating of 74.9.
There was no immediate word of a Vikings roster move to make room for Ramsey. Rookie cornerback Chris Cook was placed on injured reserve Tuesday after post-surgical swelling in his knees persisted.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
