Tony Romo, CBS Sports' lead NFL analyst, has been placed on leave from his role following his arrest last week on charges related to operating a vehicle while intoxicated in Wisconsin. The network announced Friday morning that Romo will be on leave until further notice.
It remains unclear whether Romo agreed to or requested the leave, or if it was an employment decision by CBS. The network has named former Houston Texans defensive lineman J.J. Watt as Romo's replacement as lead analyst. Watt will join play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz and sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson on CBS's No. 1 broadcast team. Sources indicate that Watt's addition is indefinite, suggesting CBS is preparing for an extended absence for Romo.
The first game for CBS's top NFL broadcast team this season is the Aug. 28 preseason matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Philadelphia Eagles.
According to a sheriff's office report, Milwaukee County deputies stopped Romo on Interstate 43 for unsafe passing. The report stated that Romo exhibited signs of impairment, performed poorly on field sobriety tests, and refused a preliminary breath test. Deputies also reported finding an open bottle of alcohol in his vehicle. Romo was cited for first-offense OWI, unsafe passing, and having an open intoxicant in a motor vehicle. He was booked and later released pending a September court appearance.
Romo, 46, joined CBS Sports as the lead NFL game analyst on April 4, 2017, the same day he retired from the NFL after his release from the Dallas Cowboys. He replaced Phil Simms, who had held the position since 1998, and was paired with Nantz and Wolfson.