MANKATO, Minn. -- VikingsPro Bowl wide receiver Sidney Rice was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list Friday with a "lingering" hip problem.
Coach Brad Childress said that Rice will be brought along slowly in training camp and won't be pushed into drills with the team. No time table was given for Rice's projected return but Childress said he expected Rice to eventually be all right.
Rice, who was hurt during Minnesota's playoff victory over Dallas, was in workout gear at the team's initial non-contact practice Friday.
With Rice out, Bernard Berrian and Percy Harvin will work with the first team offense.
Rice has seen specialists as well as team doctors and though surgery was considered, the medical opinion was to avoid an operation, Childress said.
To no surprise, cornerback Cedric Griffin, who is recovering from a torn ACL sustained in the NFC championship game, was also placed on the PUP list.
In somewhat of a surprise, middle linebacker E.J. Henderson was not placed on the PUP. Henderson sustained a broken femur in a game against Arizona last season and his career, initially, seemed to be in jeopardy.
Henderson will not be eased into practices and his contact will be limited, Childress said.
