Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Ongoing health concerns are forcing offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford to take indefinite leave from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Tedford did not travel with the team to Atlanta, when the the Buccaneers lost a third consecutive game to start the season and was not at practice Monday, head coach Lovie Smith announced.
Tedford underwent a coronary angioplasty Aug. 25 to have two stents placed in an artery near his heart. Quarterbacks coach Marcus Arroyo, offensive coordinator at Southern Miss in 2013, has been calling plays, and the results are not positive.
The Bucs have 45 points in three games, and 31 of those were in the fourth quarter and came against mostly prevent defenses. They rank 30th in total offense and 29th in points.
The 52-year-old Tedford said two weeks ago that he was back “full time” with no restrictions, but his health has not improved as expected.
And with starting quarterback Josh McCown out at least one game, any improvement from the offense could be limited.
The biggest problem that has plagued the Bucs’ offense is the revolving door at the guard positions. Since the start of training camp, seven guards have spent significant time with the first-team offense.
Two of them — Jace Daniels and Jamon Meredith — are no longer on the roster. Meredith signed with the Colts.
Logan Mankins, acquired in a trade with the Patriots, is hobbled by a knee injury suffered Week 1.
