Mysterious Illness Keeps Rice Off Field, In Phoenix Hospital

Simeon Rice’s battle with a mysterious illness took another turn Wednesday when he left training camp and was transported to a Phoenix hospital for further tests.

Rice entered St. Joseph’s Medical Center, where team physician Wayne Kuhl has his offices.

The team said the hospitalization was ordered for advanced testing to be done today, not because the second-year defensive end’s condition required it.

It was Rice’s second time in a hospital since he fell ill Saturday.

On Sunday, he checked into a Flagstaff hospital for some diagnostic work, including a spinal tap that left him sore and made walking difficult. He was released about 12 hours later.

The next development came Tuesday, when Kuhl said Rice had contracted a severe viral infection and was on medication.

The Cardinals have not set a time for Rice’s return to camp, and coach Vince Tobin was worried after Wednesday’s practice - the sixth straight Rice has missed.

“Any time a guy is not progressing, it’s a concern,” Tobin said. “I felt like he probably would be back in a day or two, and he’s not. You know, he’s still in the process of being evaluated.”

Tobin and other Cardinals officials said Rice’s illness has not been identified and declined to discuss his symptoms. Rice sought medical aid Saturday night because of a severe migraine-like headache.

The 6-foot-5, 260-pound defensive end is a key to Tobin’s plans to improve on last year’s 7-9 record. Rice tied the rookie record with 12-1/2 sacks last season and was named the NFL’s defensive rookie of the year.