JJ Watt’s first look at the Minnesota Vikings for Week 1 came with a little too much information attached.
With his new job as CBS Sports’ lead NFL analyst for the start of the 2026 season, Watt has been digging into the Vikings’ offense ahead of his broadcast debut. That first assignment lands on Sunday, September 13, 2026, when the Packers visit Minnesota, and he’ll be in the booth with Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson.
The prep work also produced an accidental reveal. Watt shared a photo from his research, and it showed the Vikings with Wentz listed as the No. 2 quarterback, not McCarthy. That detail stands out because Minnesota’s quarterback battle was supposed to be one of the major questions heading into the opener, with Murray ultimately winning the starting job and locking down QB1 for Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers.
Watt’s rise to the top broadcast team comes after CBS Sports moved Tony Romo to an indefinite leave of absence “until further notice.” Romo had been the network’s No. 1 game analyst since retiring from the NFL in 2017, but his legal trouble in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on suspicion of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, opened the door for CBS to elevate Watt and give its coverage immediate stability.
Now Watt is set to make his season debut in a much bigger chair than before - and, at least for one photo, he gave fans a peek at how the Vikings’ Week 1 depth chart looks behind the scenes.
In Other News...
Vikings QB Drama Just Put Their Season-Opening Plan Under Pressure
J.J. McCarthys ankle injury in the Vikings second preseason game has turned a routine summer storyline into something much bigger, and it has put Minnesotas season-opening plan under a brighter spotlight. Even after losing the starting job, McCarthy remains central to the conversation because every twist at quarterback affects how the offense is set up, how the coaching staff manages the depth chart and how much uncertainty lingers heading into Week 1.
Kyler Murray, meanwhile, has emerged as a beneficiary of the situation, which only adds another layer to the quarterback picture the Vikings are trying to sort through. For a team built around stability and clear direction under center, the timing of McCarthys injury makes the decision-making process more delicate, and the next move from the coaching staff will say plenty about how confident it feels in its plans. [Read more 🡒]
Kyler Murray Could Force Kevin OConnell Into A Vikings Offense Dilemma
Kevin OConnell has built his reputation on adapting to quarterbacks, and that flexibility is about to be tested again from the Minnesota side. His background blends the precision of New England-influenced discipline with a more California-style willingness to tailor the offense to the player in front of him, which has helped him navigate different skill sets and keep the Vikings moving. He has coached quarterbacks with varying strengths before, and his system has generally leaned toward timing, structure and clean decision-making.
Kyler Murray brings a different kind of challenge, though, because his mobility and instinctive playmaking can pull an offense away from the scripted, precise rhythm OConnell prefers. With Minnesotas quarterback situation creating the opening for Murray to matter here, the question becomes whether OConnell sticks to his usual framework or bends it further for a quarterback who can turn a broken play into something dangerous. The tension is obvious: the Vikings need an answer, but the answer may require the coach to loosen the very control that has helped define him. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Fans Noticed One Troubling Detail In JJ Watts Prep Photo
J.J. Watts next act in the NFL will send him straight to Minnesota, with CBS Sports promoting the former star pass rusher to lead analyst for the 2026 season. He will replace Tony Romo, who was placed on an indefinite leave of absence after an arrest, and pair with Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson in the booth when the Green Bay Packers visit the Vikings on Sept. 13, 2026.
For Minnesota fans, the assignment is an immediate one to watch because Watts first game in the role lands on a familiar stage with plenty of NFC North stakes attached. The broadcast setup already has a different feel with the new lineup, and the backdrop to Watts prep photo has only added to the chatter around how his first major Sunday call will look when that matchup arrives. [Read more 🡒]