Bevell was primary playcaller Friday

MANKATO — Pssst: Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell called "most" of the Vikings' offensive plays in Friday night's preseason opener against St. Louis, coach Brad Childress said Monday.

Childress called plays last season but had been vague about his intentions for 2007. Friday, Bevell handled the job from the coaches booth, calling them in to quarterbacks coach Kevin Rogers. Then, Rogers radioed the call to the quarterbacks.

Childress was on the headset with both men and, like Rogers, was wired into the quarterback's helmet as well. Childress called the experience "a little double-edged sword."It allows me too much freedom to holler at officials when I don't think they quite got it right," Childress said. "So I'll have to watch myself in that area."

On the positive side, Childress said Bevell's increased role allowed the head coach to spend more time talking with defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier.

"I don't meddle there too much," Childress said, but he occasionally suggested blitzes when it was clear the Rams' young quarterbacks were struggling.

For the record, the Vikings ran 26 pass plays (three resulted in sacks) and 23 running plays with Bevell in command.

Evans update

New Vikings defensive lineman Fred Evans has court dates in two states to address his pair of arrests this offseason.

First up is a plea hearing Thursday in Miami-Dade (Fla.) County Court, where he originally pleaded not guilty to charges stemming from a June 23 fight with police in Miami Beach. According to court records, Evans has been formally charged with two felonies -- assault on a police officer and resisting arrest -- and one misdemeanor, for trespassing.

Meanwhile, Evans has been summoned to Colorado County (Texas) Court Sept. 5 on charges of misdemeanor marijuana possession. Evans pleaded no contest to the charge in June, but the Miami arrest violated a one-year probation period, according to county attorney Ken Sparks.

Evans now will stand trial, Sparks said. The maximum punishment under Texas law is six months in jail and a $2,000 fine.

Tank was back

Friday night marked safety Tank Williams' first game action since Jan. 1, 2006, when he was a member of the Tennessee Titans. Williams missed all of last season, including the preseason, after fracturing his kneecap early in the Vikings' 2006 training camp.

Williams played more than half of the Vikings' defensive plays Friday night, finishing with one tackle and one pass defensed while working with the second and third defenses.

"I definitely felt good in my element," Williams said. "There are always things you want to correct, but definitely for a first preseason game, I felt it was a good start and I look forward to it getting better and better each and every week."

Williams is competing for a backup safety spot with Mike Doss and Greg Blue.

Etc.

• Reserve offensive lineman Adam O'Connor left the morning practice on a cart after injuring his left knee in a 9-on-7 drill. However, Childress termed the injury a sprain and said, "It doesn't look as serious as we thought."

• Vikings linebacker Rufus Alexander and offensive lineman Dan Mozes are both scheduled to undergo surgery Thursday to repair torn anterior cruciate ligaments in their knees. Alexander will have his surgery in Minnesota, while Mozes will visit Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.

Kevin Seifert • kseifert@startribune.com