The Cardinals -- including (from left) tackle Givens Price, quarterback Carson Palmer, cornerback Brandon Williams and defensive tackle Josh Mauro, are given an update on coach Bruce Arians' health after Tuesday's practice.
SAN DIEGO – When the Cardinals commenced their joint practice with the Chargers Tuesday night at Qualcomm Stadium, Bruce Arians was not there.
The head coach was suffering from stomach pains soon after arriving at the stadium in the afternoon. So as his players continued training camp, Arians was taken to a nearby hospital. He will stay overnight for further tests, but he is
expected to be OK.
The team knew Arians was sick at the outset of practice, and heard from assistant head coach Tom Moore and head team physician Dr. Wayne Kuhl afterward.
"We heard that he's doing better," safety Tyrann Mathieu said. "He's in some discomfort, so we're concerned for him, obviously. He's our leader. He's the heartbeat of our team. We really wish him a speedy recovery."
Center A.Q. Shipley has played for Arians in Pittsburgh and Indianapolis. Not only did Arians help guide the Colts when head coach Chuck Pagano battled cancer during the 2012 season, but Arians missed the Colts' playoff game that season himself when he was hospitalized after feeling ill the morning of the game.
"Coach is a fighter," Shipley said. "I've been around it before when he went down before the Ravens (game) and he
was good to go a day or two later. He'll be fine and we went out and got good work done on his behalf."
Chargers coach Mike McCoy addressed both teams at the beginning of practice, acknowledging Arians' absence. During the workout, which was open to the public, the Chargers announced that Arians was not feeling well and asked for applause in support of the coach.
Running back David Johnson noted that it is Arians who often keeps the intensity up during practice, especially if things were to get lax. To not have him, "it was different," Johnson said. "He's always critiquing."
The Cardinals will have one more closed afternoon practice against the Chargers Wednesday at their practice facility and then will play the Chargers back at Qualcomm Friday night.
"He's going to be fine," wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said. "We've got the toughest coach in the business."
