Jim Nantz tried to demonstrate 'Peanut Punch' on-air. It didn't go well
Steve Gardner, USA TODAYMon, October 19, 2026 at 12:58 PM UTC
Former NFL star J.J. Watt was showing how players try to prevent defenders from punching the ball out of their hands. Jim Nantz gave it a shot anyway.
Defensive players in the NFL have become adept at creating fumbles by punching the ball out of opponents hands while making a tackle.
On CBS's broadcast of the Buffalo Bills-Las Vegas Raiders game, play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz learned the hard way that it's not such an easy thing to do.
During a break in the action just before the first-half two-minute warning, analyst and former All-Pro defensive end J.J. Watt demonstrated how offensive players are trying to combat the strategy and take additional steps to protect the ball, he asked Nantz to take his best shot at the so-called "Peanut Punch."
Oops.
Shockingly, the ball didn't budge from the 6-5, 288-pound Watt's hands. Meanwhile, Nantz grimaced in pain.
"That was so much harder than I thought you were gonna go," Watt said laughing, as play resumed. "But the ball stayed!"
"Yeah, it did," Nantz replied. "My wrist is broken."
While the 57-year-old Nantz may not have suffered an actual fracture, he did have an ice pack for his hand in the booth with him as the second half began.
“Physical at times in that first half,” Nantz joked as the kickoff was being returned. “Gonna be a few folks having to play hurt the last couple of quarters.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jim Nantz tried to demonstrate 'Peanut Punch' on-air. It didn't go well
Source: Sports
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