‘My wrist is broken’: Legendary NFL announcer Jim Nantz, 67, appears to suffer painful injury live in the booth
Legendary NFL broadcaster Jim Nantz appeared to suffer a painful injury live on Sunday after a demonstration with analyst JJ Watt went comically wrong.
The bizarre incident unfolded during CBS’s live broadcast of the Week 6 matchup between the Buffalo Bills and the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.
Watt was demonstrating ball security methods used by NFL rushers, showing how modern ball carriers protect the football against defenders attempting to dislodge it.
The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year invited his 67-year-old broadcast partner to test his grip by executing a famous ‘peanut punch’.
Nantz stepped up and drove his closed fist directly into the football with full force, hoping to punch the ball free from the former defensive lineman’s hands.
However, Watt’s grip did not budge in the slightest, sending the full force of the blow reverberating back into the veteran broadcaster’s hand and wrist.
Legendary NFL broadcaster Jim Nantz appeared to suffer a painful injury live on Sunday
Watt invited his 67-year-old broadcast partner to test his grip by executing a famous ‘peanut punch’ – but his grip didn’t budge when Nantz drove his fist into the ball
Nantz returned holding a medical ice pack firmly wrapped against his injured wrist
Nantz immediately winced and recoiled from the impact, shaking out his hand before clutching his wrist in visible discomfort alongside his broadcast partner.
‘I did not think you were gonna go that hard,’ a stunned Watt admitted while laughing sympathetically at the broadcaster’s full-blooded punch attempt.
Nantz smiled through the obvious pain before humorously conceding on air: ‘My wrist is broken. Like I’m really going to knock it out of your hands.’
The veteran announcer disappeared from the broadcast briefly before returning on camera holding a medical ice pack firmly wrapped against his injured wrist.
‘Better get Jim some ice,’ Watt joked during the telecast as the crew continued to review running back James Cook’s ball-carrying habits during the game.
The painful moment quickly took social media by storm, with viewers and NFL fans flooding platforms with jokes and memes regarding Nantz’s brave attempt.
The hilarious exchange marked another viral moment for Watt, who took over as the lead game analyst for CBS Sports after Tony Romo moved away from the booth.
Despite the lingering sting in his right hand, Nantz soldiered on and completed his full play-by-play duties for the remainder of Sunday’s AFC matchup.
