Tony Romo's comeback remains distant. When could he return to CBS booth? - USA Today

Tony Romo's return to CBS is not imminent.

The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback, currently on leave following his July arrest for operating a vehicle while intoxicated, is not part of the announcer lineup for Weeks 2 and 3 of the 2026 NFL regular season that the network released.

The CBS "A-Team" of Jim Nantz, J.J. Watt (Romo's interim and potentially long-term replacement as the network's No. 1 game analyst) and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson will call the Pittsburgh Steelers at New England Patriots contest on Sept. 20 before heading to Brazil for the Dallas Cowboys-Baltimore Ravens international tilt.

Watt made his debut during the Minnesota Vikings' victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 13.

Networks normally announce their game assignments for broadcasting crews a week or two in advance, which means Romo's return – a questionable proposition to begin with – won't be out of nowhere.

CBS has not publicly commented on Romo in more than a month and not since he pleaded no contest to three charges from his July 23 arrest in his native Wisconsin. In a statement released Sept. 1, Romo said he was working with his medical team address his recovery from a dependency on alcohol that developed following his playing days.