Jim Nantz and JJ Watt's football punch demo leaves Nantz with wrist injury

Nantz hurt during live demo with Watt

CBS announcer Jim Nantz said his wrist was hurt after booth partner JJ Watt walked him through the punch out, the move defenders use to try to force a fumble, during the Bills vs. Raiders broadcast on Oct. 18, 2026. Nantz asked Watt how the punch out works, and Watt, a former NFL defensive end, explained it in real time on air.

Watt told Nantz that defenders have gotten good at the bottom-of-the-ball punch, sometimes called the peanut or Tillman punch, but that some players now use a wrist walk instead, pointing to a player he referred to as Cook as an example. Watt then told Nantz to give the ball a real punch. Nantz did, then recoiled and started shaking his hand. After a few minutes he told viewers, "My wrist is broken." Watt laughed, saying he never thought Nantz would hit the ball that hard.

Why Watt is in the booth this season

Nantz spent close to a decade calling games alongside former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo. Romo left CBS after his arrest for OWI, and the network brought in Watt to partner with Nantz for the rest of the 2026 season. The punch out demonstration happened while the two were still early in building chemistry together in the booth.

What is known, what is not, and what happens next

What is known: Nantz said on air that his wrist was broken right after punching the ball at Watt's instruction. Watt laughed it off and seemed to think Nantz was joking about the injury, though Nantz did appear to be in some pain. Both continued calling the Bills vs. Raiders game as it neared the end of the first half.

What is not known: the fact sheet does not include any further medical confirmation beyond Nantz's own comment on the broadcast, and there is no update yet on whether he was examined or what, if anything, happens with the rest of his broadcast schedule. Nothing beyond the on-air moment itself has been reported.

Facts per EssentiallySports. Opinion is the taproom's.