MINNEAPOLIS -- He was listed as questionable all week. But as each day passed, almost each hour, it appeared more and more likely that Richard Seymour would see some playing time last night. The Pro Bowl defensive linemen, who hurt his left elbow in last week's game against Buffalo, had been listed as a 50-50 shot to play against the Vikings even though he practiced every day with a brace on his arm. On Sunday, the word came that Seymour had made the trip to Minnesota. Around 5 p.m. local time yesterday, Seymour was on the Metrodome field in uniform, warming up. But that could have been some gamesmanship on coach Bill Belichick But by 7 o'clock, the inactive list was released, and Seymour's name wasn't on it, making it likely that he'd be playing.

When the game began and the Patriots' defense took the field for the first time, Seymour wasn't out there. Jarvis Green started instead, with Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren .

It remained that way for one defensive series.

With the Vikings facing third-and-8 at the New England 33 after an interception by safety Darren Sharper , Seymour came on the field. He played the rest of the series and the next.

Yates gets start

With starting right guard Stephen Neal (ankle) and his usual backup Russ Hochstein (knee) both back home in Massachusetts because of injuries, the Patriots started Billy Yates at the spot last night. It was his first career start.

Yates, who played in four games last season, was signed off the practice squad 10 days ago. When he was cut at the end of training camp and signed to the scout team, he wasn't given the usual $79,900 that most practice-teamers get. Far from it. As an incentive to stay with New England, Yates was paid $425,000. Practice squad players can be signed to another team's 53-man roster at any time, with no compensation to the team he was with.

Making changes

In other moves, Artrell Hawkins started at safety in place of Eugene Wilson (hamstring) and rookie David Thomas started at tight end in place of Daniel Graham (ankle) as the Pats had to juggle their lineup because of injuries.

Seeing some action

Jabar Gaffney became the newest entry into the Patriots record book, catching a pass from Tom Brady in the second quarter.

Gaffney, a fourth-year pro who was a teammate of Reche Caldwell 's at Florida, was signed by New England during their bye week. He was active for the Buffalo game but did not record any statistics.

Moon in Metrodome

The Vikings honored nine-time Pro Bowl quarterback Warren Moon , who was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August, during the game last night.

Moon, the first African-American quarterback and first undrafted QB in the Hall, played in Minnesota for three seasons, from 1994-96, and became the first in team history to pass for more than 4,000 yards, which he did in 1994 and '95.

In 17 NFL seasons -- which were preceded by six years in the Canadian Football League -- Moon started 203 of the 208 games he played, throwing for 49,325 yards with a completion percentage of 58.4.

He served as the Vikings' honorary captain and a video highlight film was shown before the game. Moon was wearing his Hall of Fame jacket and ring, and his bust from Canton was on the field as well.

Extra points

Last night was the only appearance the Pats will make this season on Monday Night Football, and their only game in a dome. . . . Minnesota tight end Jermaine Wiggins , who was part of the Pats' 2001 Super Bowl team, is a captain with the Vikings. . . . Another former Patriot, Bethel Johnson , started and caught a 15-yard pass on Minnesota's first possession.

smanza@projo.com / (401) 277-7340