EDEN PRAIRIE — Brett Favre’s latest problem is his elbow.

With the NFL investigating whether he sent lewd photos of himself to a Jets game hostess while he played for New York in 2008, Favre said Wednesday that his cherished, league-record streak of 289 straight starts could be in danger if the pain in his right elbow gets any worse.

The 41-year-old quarterback did not practice with Minnesota on Wednesday, preferring to rest the tendinitis that flared up noticeably on Monday night in the Vikings 29-20 loss to the Jets.

“I don’t want to play just to play,” Favre said. “It’s kind of a funny injury. It could flare up and get worse.”

It’s even more adversity for Favre this season, which so far has been anything but a repeat of last year’s charmed run to the NFC title game. How bad is it? On Wednesday, local TV station WCCO posted video of Favre getting hit in the groin by a stray football during a warm up before practice started.

Commissioner Roger Goodell said on Tuesday there is no timetable for completing an investigation into a Deadspin report that Favre sent inappropriate messages and photos to Jenn Sterger in 2008.

And the Vikings are off to a 1-3 start heading into what they call a must-win game against Dallas on Sunday.

“I don’t rank them,” Favre said on Wednesday when asked how the allegations measure up to other issues he’s dealt with in his career. “I’m thrilled to be here and have an opportunity to lead this team to the Super Bowl. … There’s still a lot of football left. I feel very confident in a lot of ways.

“You go through different things in your life. Football is a very tough sport, mentally and physically. Last year was great. Almost too great. But I woke up this morning and was very eager to get over here. Moreso than last year at this time, to get this back on track. I feel confident that (the team) will right itself in the end.”

In 20 years in the NFL, Favre has been through tough times before.

From his addiction to pain killers early in his career, to his wife being diagnosed with breast cancer, and through the death of his father, Favre has always managed to keep his focus on the game, often delivering some of his best performances along the way.

“I think he’s really handling it well. I really do,” said Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell, a close friend of Favre’s from their days together in Green Bay. “The guy is so resilient and has his priorities straight, and I think in the midst of a tough, tough situation, across the board, I think he’s handled it really well.”