Hip injury forces Minnesota Vikings' Sidney Rice onto PUP list

MANKATO, Minn. -- A lingering hip injury forced Vikings wide receiver Sidney Rice onto the physically unable to perform list Friday, limiting him to individual conditioning drills at a side practice field during the team's initial practice.

Rice said his status is day to day, insisting the move to the PUP list was cautionary. He said there was "no doubt" he would be ready for the Sept. 9 season opener at New Orleans. Still, the move raises questions about how the injury was managed.

Rice said he was injured in the NFC championship game against the New Orlenas Saints and thought he had recovered when he reported to minicamp in June. However, his hip did not respond well to cutting and breaking off pass routes, and he was shut down.

Team doctors and outside specialists ultimately agreed to more rehabilitation after considering surgery that Rice speculated would sideline him four to six weeks.

"A couple guys thought I should have (surgery) but didn't need it necessarily. The plan now is just to rehab and get everything back the way it was supposed to be," said Rice, who had a breakout season in 2009, finishing fourth in the NFL with 1,312 receiving yards.

Childress said the team opted to treat Rice's hip rather than operate on it.

"We decided we didn't want to be as aggressive as you could be, with a surgical procedure," Childress said. "I think he will be OK. That is what the doctors wanted to do with it."

Gerhart last to sign: Rookie running back Toby Gerhart received a text message Thursday urging him to sign his contract and get into camp. The coach turned up the heat Friday, telling a radio interviewer Gerhart needed to "get his tail in here."

Just before Friday's first practice, the 2009 Heisman Trophy runner-up signed his contract, becoming the last of Minnesota's eight draft choices to agree to terms with the team.

"Definitely, you feel the urgency. I was fortunate enough to get the deal done," said Gerhart, who missed part of minicamp to attend commencement at Stanford University. "I got a little text message saying, 'Get here. Get your mind right.' That's what I wanted to do."

Gerhart is expected to absorb the short-yardage plays of free-agent departure Chester Taylor. Gerhart led the country with 1,871 yards and 28 touchdowns for the Cardinal, finishing 28 points behind Alabama's Mark Ingram in Heisman voting -- the closest race in the 75-year history of the award.

Williams looking svelte: Defensive tackle Pat Williams said he lost 18 pounds during the off-season, reporting to camp at 324 pounds, his lightest weight since coming to Minnesota in 2004.

Williams, 37, spent part of the offseason rehabilitating from elbow surgery and worked harder to get in better shape after battling injuries last season. He is in the final year of his contract and has hinted about retirement.

"I just wanted to feel good this year so if I wanted to take some days off of practice, coach won't get mad at me," joked Williams, who has battled weight issues. "I'm ready to pad it up and have some fun."

Griffin not ready: As expected, cornerback Cedric Griffin was placed on the physically unable to perform list. Griffin tore knee ligaments in the NFC championship game and might have to start the season on the injured list.

He said it: Childress, asked about waiting on word from vacillating quarterback Brett Favre: "He needs time; he gets time. He'll make a decision, and we'll live with it, either way."