J.J. Watt Is Filling In for Tony Romo on CBS — How Long Will It Last?

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Football fans tuning into the CBS Sports broadcast this weekend will likely notice a distinct shift in the network’s analyst team. With longtime lead analyst and ex-Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo placed on indefinite leave after getting arrested for operating while intoxicated (OWI) in July ahead of the NFL season, former Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt has stepped up to the plate.

Watt, who previously worked alongside play-by-play partner Ian Eagle on CBS’s secondary broadcast crew, is now sliding directly into the network’s No. 1 team with veteran announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson on CBS’s afternoon games to kick off the regular season. His first appearance with the cohort will be the Green Bay Packers-Minnesota Vikings game on Sunday, September 13. Watt even shared his thoughts on social media last month about taking over the spot.

“Haven’t said much because it’s not the circumstances you’d hope it would happen under, but I’m incredibly excited about this opportunity and look forward to working with a legendary team in Jim Nantz, Tracy Wolfson, Jim Rikhoff and the entire CBS lead crew,” Watt wrote in a post on X from Aug. 11. “See you in Minnesota!”

Haven’t said much because it’s not the circumstances you’d hope it would happen under, but I’m incredibly excited about this opportunity and look forward to working with a legendary team in Jim Nantz, Tracy Wolfson, Jim Rikhoff and the entire CBS lead crew.

See you in Minnesota! pic.twitter.com/9IKaTg5cTv

— JJ Watt (@JJWatt) August 11, 2026

But how long is Watt expected to hold down the fort? CBS has not provided a return date for Romo, leaving his broadcasting status uncertain and still up in the air. CBS Sports president David Berson said during an event last month that the network was “still assessing” the situation and that there was “no timetable or final decision” at the time.

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Romo signed an extension with the network running through 2030, but there’s been speculation on whether the network will use this unexpected opening to reevaluate its lead analysts. For instance, sports business insider John Ourand recently predicted on Puck’s Power That Be podcast that he thinks there’s a 95 percent chance Romo will not return.

But for now, it seems as though CBS is treating Watt’s temporary promotion as an open-ended tryout while monitoring the legal developments and implications of Romo’s situation. Until then, viewers can expect Watt to bring his energy, analytical insights, and defensive knowledge to CBS’s football games each week.