Jim Nantz Tries to Demonstrate ‘Peanut Punch’ in Broadcast Booth with JJ Watt — And Immediately Regrets It

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CBS announcer Jim Nantz appeared to hurt himself after trying to demonstrate a “Peanut punch” with JJ Watt in the broadcast booth Sunday.

The broadcasting duo was in Las Vegas to call the Week 6 matchup between the Raiders and the Buffalo Bills. During a break in the action, Watt took a moment to talk about the recent rise of the “Peanut punch” in the NFL. Popularized by former Chicago Bears player Charles “Peanut” Tillman, the move involves a defender punching the ball and forcing ball carriers to fumble it. Successful Peanut punches require a level of timing and precision that has to be practiced, and the NFL has seen a significant number of them through the first several weeks of the season.

During Watt’s demonstration, he also brought up how ball carriers have altered their grip to better protect themselves against the punch. He then asked Nantz to try punching the ball out.

“Really?” Nantz responded.

“As hard as you got, brother,” Watt assured him.

Nantz them stood up and punched the ball with a noticeable amount of force. He quickly recoiled in pain and sat back down.

“I did not think you were gonna go that hard,” Watt said through laughter. “That was so much harder than I thought you were gonna go!”

Nantz was seen rubbing his wrist as the broadcast switched back to the action on the field.

“My wrist is broken,” Nantz said. “Like I’m gonna knock it out of your hands!”

At the start of the second half, NFL podcast host Dan Hanzus noticed that Nantz had his hand wrapped. Interestingly, neither announcer mentioned it.

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