We’ve seen some Bucs players miss time at practice during this year’s training camp, but now a coach will be out as well. Bruce Arians confirmed after Wednesday’s practice that offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich will miss some time due to personal reasons. Arians also clarified that it is not anything COVID related.

At the moment, it’s not known when Leftwich will be able to return, but the hope is that he’ll be back in time for Tampa Bay’s preseason game at home on Saturday.

“It’s a very personal thing with Byron,” Arians said. “I’m not sure when he’ll be back. Hopefully by Saturday, but we’ll see.”

With Leftwich absent from practice, it was Arians that was calling the plays for the Bucs’ offense on Wednesday morning. Arians had previously called plays as an interim coach for the Colts and head coach for the Cardinals, but he has given full play-calling responsibilities to Leftwich in the two seasons that they’ve been with the Bucs.

In Leftwich’s second year as the Bucs’ offensive coordinator and his first season coaching Tom Brady, the Bucs averaged 30.8 points per game during the regular season. They maintained that same average in the postseason, reaching at least 30 points in each contest and scoring 31 points in three out of the four postseason games on the way to winning Super Bowl LV.