NFL

FAVRE UNLIKELY TO PLAY IN JETS’ PRESEASON FINALE

Have we seen the last of Brett Favre in his game-day uniform until Sept. 7?

It’s most likely that Favre’s first-half playing time against the Giants on Saturday night at Giants Stadium will be the last he gets until the Jets open the regular season against the Dolphins in Miami two weeks from yesterday.

Favre’s preseason has included 38 offensive snaps, 24 on Saturday night, including one kneel-down at the end of the first half.

He hasn’t been shy about expressing the desire for more game time, but coach Eric Mangini appears to prefer erring on the side of caution by limiting Favre’s snaps.

It’s unlikely Mangini will play the starters during the Jets’ preseason finale at Philadelphia on Thursday, because Eagles head coach Andy Reid never plays his starters in that game.

Mangini said after Saturday’s game that he’s “open” to Favre and the first team playing Thursday, but don’t bet on it.

“I want to see how practice goes,” Mangini said. “We have a short week.”

Favre has lobbied for more playing time in the last two Jets’ preseason games only to be rebuffed by Mangini.

“We came in at halftime (Saturday) and he said, ‘Brett, I’m going to shut you down,’ ” Favre said. “I understood. I wasn’t mad. I just said, ‘I’d like to get a score,’ but that’s OK.

“I’ll present my side (for playing against the Eagles) and say, ‘Hey, I’d love to play a series, two series, whatever.’ If he says, ‘Brett, it just ain’t worth it,’ then so be it.”

Favre played in the preseason finale for the Packers the last two seasons.

“That was probably me staying in (Packers coach) Mike McCarthy’s ear,” Favre said. “I say, ‘Heck, if I’m going to practice, I want to play at least a series.’ With Eric and I, our communication has been great. I understand his side of it.”

Favre said, despite the Jets’ 10 offensive penalties Saturday night, he “felt better” than he did the previous week against the Redskins.

Favre’s 38 preseason plays produced some pretty crisp numbers – 14-of-18 for 144 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions and a passer rating of 118.5.

Not included in those numbers was the 49-yard scoring pass he threw Saturday to wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery that was nullified by an illegal shift penalty called on tight end Bubba Franks. Favre, too, had a long pass completion to Brad Smith called back because of another illegal shift penalty.

“I don’t know how he feels but it looks like he’s getting more and more comfortable each and every day and each and every game,” Cotchery said.

Favre was pleased with his progress.

“I think we did some much better things even though they were called back,” he said. “I think I’m fitting in better today and I think that next week I’ll feel the same way. I think the guys in that (locker) room would say they’re getting a better feel for me and how I play.

“I felt more at ease in the huddle. I felt more at ease on the field. I felt more like myself. It’s about the team and I really believe that we made a lot of strides.”

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Former Jets special teams coach Mike Westhoff yesterday called rumors that he was about to return to the Jets to coach “premature.”

But two NFL sources have told The Post that, although nothing is official yet, Westhoff likely will rejoin the Jets in time for the season opener.

Westhoff, who stepped away from coaching after last season to have complicated surgery to insert a titanium rod in his leg and then rehab it, told The Post yesterday that he wants to coach again and hired an agent for the first time to help facilitate that move.

Nevertheless, Westhoff declined to comment on rumors of his impending reunion with the Jets, where he coached special teams from 2002 through last season.

“Where there’s smoke, there’s fire,” said one of the NFL sources.

mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com