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Jim Nantz says he 'learned a lesson' trying to Peanut punch ball from J.J. Watt: Don't do it

Legendary CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz found himself in an unexpected predicament during Sunday’s Buffalo Bills–Las Vegas Raiders game after attempting to demonstrate the so-called 'Peanut punch' with former NFL defensive standout J.J. Watt.

The maneuver, named after retired cornerback Charles Tillman, involves a defensive player striking the football to force a fumble. Watt, now a CBS analyst, encouraged Nantz to mimic an offensive player holding the ball and deliver a punch.

Though Nantz admitted he ‘went aggressively,’ the ball remained firmly in Watt’s grasp, leaving the 67-year-old wincing and joking about his wrist afterward. His discomfort was so noticeable that he wrapped his hand post-halftime, sparking rumors of a serious injury—even prompting a text from Bills quarterback Josh Allen asking if he’d broken his hand.

Watt later teased the incident on X, labeling Nantz as ‘Questionable (Wrist/Hand)’ in CBS’s injury report for the week. Nantz downplayed the situation in a Tuesday interview, calling it a lesson learned and laughing off the exaggerated concerns, including a call from a former U.S.

president inquiring about his hand’s condition.

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