KIRKLAND, Wash. – Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes, who had a mild stroke two months ago, was hospitalized Friday after another “episode” and will miss Sunday’s game at Arizona.

“It wasn’t as severe as the first one,” coach Mike Holmgren said, declining to say if Rhodes had another stroke.

“I’ll let the medical people define that,” he said.

The Seahawks wouldn’t say where Rhodes was hospitalized.

Rhodes missed the Seahawks’ opener at Jacksonville on Sept. 11 after being hospitalized for two days after complaining of dizziness. Doctors said he had a mild stroke.

Linebackers coach John Marshall has been serving as the defensive coordinator this season, although Rhodes has been sitting next to him in the press boxes at games.

Holmgren said Rhodes “started feeling really tired last night” and called his doctor after arriving at work at the Seahawks’ headquarters Friday morning. Rhodes then was advised to go to the hospital, Holmgren said.

The 54-year-old Rhodes is known for his intensity on the job.

“He was cutting back on some of the things he was doing, but clearly he wasn’t cutting back enough,” Holmgren said. “He’s his own worst enemy sometimes. So now we’re going to take a little different look at it.”

Holmgren said Rhodes, defensive coordinator of the Seahawks for the past three seasons and former head coach of the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles, had been feeling better since being hospitalized last month.

“His blood pressure was down,” Holmgren said.

The NFC West-leading Seahawks (5-2) rank eighth in the NFL in total defense this season after being 26th in the league on defense last season.

Holmgren said he had met with Marshall about Sunday’s defensive game plan.

“Everything is in place,” Holmgren said. “John has been calling the defense.”

AP-ES-11-04-05 1812EST

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