MINNEAPOLIS – While Brett Favre had an up-and-down 2010 Metrodome debut, his two newest receivers definitely gave him something to smile about.
Favre threw for 187 yards and two interceptions, one that rookie Earl Thomas returned 86 yards for a touchdown in Minnesota's 24-13 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Saturday night.
Favre completed 16 of 26 passes and took a couple of big hits while playing two series into the third quarter. His interception to Thomas went in and out of the hands of Bernard Berrian.
Thomas delivered Seattle's lone touchdown of the game and also leveled Percy Harvin on a slant over the middle. It was a big night for the heavy-hitting safety from Texas, taken by the Seahawks with the 14th overall pick over Taylor Mays, who was a standout for coach Pete Carroll at USC.
"He made a huge play tonight," Carroll said. "I can't wait to see it again."
The Vikings signed veteran Javon Walker on Tuesday and acquired Greg Camarillo from Miami in a trade on Wednesday to bolster a receiving corps that has lost Pro Bowler Sidney Rice for eight weeks because of hip surgery.
"We've got to find out in a short period of time who can make some plays in the passing game," Favre said.
Camarillo had four catches for 47 yards and Walker made a great catch over Walter Thurmond for a 25-yard TD from Sage Rosenfels in the fourth quarter.
"We really needed to see that," Favre said of Walker's play.
Favre, who was coaxed back for a 20th NFL season on Aug. 18, played eight series on Saturday night. He led the Vikings to one field goal and a touchdown, a 24-yard run by Adrian Peterson that was set up by a 73-yard kickoff return by Darius Reynaud.
Peterson finished with 37 yards on 11 carries.
Favre also lost a fumble when Chris Clemons blew past left tackle Bryant McKinnie for a sack that had the 40-year-old quarterback shaking his throwing hand in pain early in the first. But he remained in the game and helped the Vikings amass 242 yards of offense, but only 10 points, while he was playing.
Coach Brad Childress called the offense, which also started Anthony Herrera at center for John Sullivan (calf), "still in flux," which has to be a concern with the opener in New Orleans looming on Sept. 9.
"There are a lot of moving parts and parts that are just being added," Childress said.
Seattle's offense sputtered along as well.
Matt Hasselbeck completed nine of 17 passes for 126 yards, 42 coming on a completion to Mike Williams in the third quarter. More importantly, he left after two series in the third quarter without a scratch on him.
That was no small feat for Seattle's patchwork offensive line against a defensive line that led the NFL in sacks last year. Sixth overall draft choice Russell Okung is out indefinitely with a high ankle sprain, forcing the Seahawks to move backup left guard Mike Wrotto out to left tackle.
Two years ago, Jared Allen put a crunching hit on Hasselbeck in the preseason that knocked him out of the game with a back injury, one that lingered most of the season and kept him out for nine games in the regular season that year. He missed two games with a rib injury last season, but the Seahawks did a pretty good job of protecting him on Saturday night.
Hasselbeck was sacked twice and hit two other times, but came away unscathed.
"Our plan was to not let the quarterback get hit and for the most part we did that," Carroll said.
The Vikings also had to be encouraged by Harvin's return. The reigning offensive rookie of the year has only practiced six times this preseason because of recurring migraine headaches, including a bout that caused trainers to call an ambulance to practice just over a week ago.
Harvin had two catches for 30 yards. He also took two big hits to the head, one from Lofa Tatupu that knocked his helmet off and the one from Thomas that broke up a pass in the third quarter.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.