Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford has decided to take a leave of absence from the team in an effort to recover from a coronary angioplasty, a procedure he underwent last month in which two stents were placed in an artery near his heart.
Tedford, who had been acting as "an extra set of eyes" since undergoing surgery, did not travel with the team for their most recent game in Atlanta.
The team announced that quarterbacks coach Marcus Arroyo will continue calling plays in Tedford's absence. Arroyo had already taken over play-calling duties in Tedford's semi-absence following the procedure.
The Bucs offense has been anything but spectacular to this point in the season. The 0-3 team currently ranks 30th in the league in total offense, 32nd in passing yards and 20th in rushing yards.
Coach Lovie Smith had said repeatedly that he expected Tedford to return to his full-time duties soon. The announcement from the team of Tedford's absence did not include a comment from Smith.
Quarterback Josh McCown did his best to remain positive, despite the increased difficulty for a squad that was already performing well below expectations.
"It's not what you want, but it's where we're at right now," McCown said. "I mean, you can't undervalue Jeff. He was chosen to be our offensive coordinator for a reason, so for him not to be around, it's not how we planned it. But we'll pick up the slack and make it work."
McCown threw his full support behind the 34-year-old Arroyo and said the team would do their best to continue moving forward, despite the less-than-ideal situation.
"Marcus can handle it. He's done it before and it's good that we have someone who has because it's not easy. That whole dynamic is an art form and there's a method to it. And to be thrust into that role, you really have to have your ducks in a row, because it takes a lot of grinding and a lot of extra work, and they're doing all they can to make sure we put our best foot forward Sunday," the quarterback said.
Further complicating matters is the absence of Pro Bowl running back Doug Martin and the potential loss of McCown who suffered a "severe right thumb sprain" during the Buc's Thursday night drubbing at the hands of the Atlanta Falcons.
Mike Glennon would start in place of McCown if he were unable to go.
"The bigger picture is outside these doors," McCown said. "It's about life and family and people and relationships, and we want Jeff to enjoy those things, so his health has to be No. 1 for us. We want to see him healthy."
