Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Sidney Rice visited a hip specialist at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado on Monday, and Judd Zulgad of the Star-Tribune reports that surgery is likely.

Rice injured the hip during the 2009 NFC Championship Game, and Zulgad adds that two of the three specialists who examined Rice's hip during the off-season recommended surgery, which Rice chose not to do.

If Rice undergoes surgery, he will likely miss the first half of the 2010 regular season. Rice opened training camp and remains on the PUP list, which would give the Vikings a roster exemption at the beginning of the season while Rice rehabs his hip injury.

The 6-4, 202-pound Rice is coming off a breakout season, catching a team-high 83 passes for 1,312 yards and 8 touchdowns, earning his first trip to the Pro Bowl. Rice is entering the final year of his rookie contract, which will pay him $550,000 in base salary this season.