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Vikings receiver Sidney Rice, the NFL’s breakout player of the year in 2009, cleared the 1,000-yard mark for the season on Sunday – in just the 12th game of the year.

With seven catches for 72 yards in a loss to Arizona, Rice now has 63 catches for an NFC-leading 1,036 yards (16.4 yards per catch) on the season with four games left to play. Rice, who has become Brett Favre’s favorite target in the Hall of Fame quarterback’s comeback year, had 46 catches for 537 yards in his first two years combined.

Rice, a second-round draft pick (44th overall) by the Vikings in 2007 out of South Carolina, has become known for his big-play ability, and at 6-4, 208 pounds, can out-leap and out-muscle most cornerbacks.

Sidney has earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors once this season. His yardage total leads the NFC and is fourth in the NFL.