Sidney Rice remains out for Vikings

Brett Favre’s top target won’t be available after all.

The Minnesota Vikings needed to activate wide receiver Sidney Rice from the physically unable to perform list and add him to the 53-man roster by 4 p.m. today, and that deadline passed without a move being made.

Rice practiced hard this week but reportedly dealt with too much pain in his surgically repaired hip to be able to play Sunday against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. The Vikings had more or less left the decision up to Rice, who had a breakout season in 2009 playing with Favre, and he’s not ready this week. It’s worth noting that Rice is in a contract year, making his decision to push off surgery on the hip until the start of training camp a potentially costly one.

Percy Harvin is also questionable for the game after battling migraines this week and Bernard Berrian (groin) is also questionable. That will put a lot of pressure on Favre in what amounts to a must-win game for the Vikings.

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune