Vikings sign Walker; Rice has surgery

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn., Aug. 24 (UPI) -- Minnesota Vikings signed receiver Javon Walker Tuesday, the day after their Pro Bowl wideout, Sidney Rice, had hip surgery.

The Minneapolis Star Tribune said Rice could miss half the upcoming season. Rice confirmed to the newspaper by text message that he had the procedure done Monday at a clinic in Vail, Colo.

Rice had his hip examined by three specialists during the off-season but showed up at training camp still sore and was placed on the physically unable to perform list. He has said he was injured in the Vikings' NFC title game loss to New Orleans last season.

Rice, 23, caught 83 passes for 1,312 yards and eight scores last season.

Walker is now reunited with Brett Favre, who was the quarterback when he had his best pro season in 2004 with 89 receptions for 1,382 yards and 12 touchdowns for Green Bay.

This is Walker's ninth season in the NFL. The 31-year-old receiver left Green Bay after four seasons to play two years in Denver and spent parts of two seasons with Oakland. He played in three games without a reception before suffering a season-ending ankle injury last year.

The Vikings waived fifth-year running back Ryan Moats Tuesday. Moats had been signed in June after two years in Houston.