CHICAGO -- Earlier this week Vikings coach Brad Childress confirmed that a decision on whether wide receiver Sidney Rice would be active for Sunday's game at Soldier Field would need to be made by 3 p.m. Saturday.
That's because Rice has yet to be placed on the 53-man roster and for him to play he needs to be on that list. Well, it's almost an hour past the deadline and there is still no word on Rice being activated by the Vikings. The Vikings are believed to be en route to Chicago (it's 4:06 p.m.) right now after leaving snowy Minnesota.
The lack of an announced move could be an indication that Rice has decided he wants another week to continue getting in football shape and doesn't want to rush onto the field after having hip surgery in late August. Rice admitted Friday that he was sore after three days of practice. He said he opened it up on Thursday and there is a chance he might not have liked the results.
The key to this is that Rice is in the final season of his contract and he already has cost himself plenty of money by not having the surgery in the offseason.
Rice likely isn't going to compound the mistake by coming back too early and getting injured.
If Rice isn't active Sunday that doesn't mean his season is finished. The Vikings have a roster exemption that enables Rice to continue practicing without counting against the 53-man roster limit until Nov. 24.
