Why Jim Nantz won’t be on CBS broadcast of Buccaneers vs. Panthers Week 18 game
Tony Romo will have a new play-by-play partner for Sunday’s game between the Buccaneers and Panthers.
CBS announced Friday morning that longtime play-by-play announcer Jim Nantz will miss the NFC South battle. Tom McCarthy, who has been calling select NFL games for CBS since 2014, will replace Nantz and allow the network to avoid a major reshuffle of its other Week 18 broadcast teams.
Why did CBS pull Nantz from the game on such short notice?
NFL WEEK 18 PICKS: Straight up | Against the spread
Why Jim Nantz won’t be on CBS broadcast of Buccaneers vs. Panthers
The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t just creating problems for coaches and players. It has also impacted the folks calling the games.
Nantz will miss the Buccaneers vs. Panthers game because of health and safety protocols. CBS didn’t specify whether Nantz had tested positive for COVID-19.
Per CBS: Due to Covid protocols, Tom McCarthy will fill in for Jim Nantz, calling Carolina at Tampa Bay alongside Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson. pic.twitter.com/cRjaEUzWO9
— Richard Deitsch (@richarddeitsch) January 7, 2022
The network encountered a similar issue last year when Romo had to miss a Week 17 game between the Cardinals and Rams because of health and safety protocols. Boomer Esiason replaced Romo as the analyst for that contest.
Who is Tom McCarthy?
In addition to his NFL assignments, McCarthy has been a play-by-play announcer for CBS’s broadcasts of college basketball and football games. He has also called NFL and college basketball games on Westwood One Sports radio.
While he has plenty of experience on the national stage, McCarthy is perhaps best known for being the TV play-by-play voice of the Phillies.
NFL schedule for Week 18
Saturday, Jan. 8
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Chiefs vs. Broncos | 4:30 p.m. | ABC/ESPN |
| Cowboys vs. Eagles | 8:15 p.m. | ABC/ESPN |
Sunday, Jan. 9
| Game | Time (ET) | TV channel |
| Bengals vs. Browns | 1 p.m. | FOX |
| Packers vs. Lions | 1 p.m. | FOX |
| Bears vs. Vikings | 1 p.m. | FOX |
| Washington Football Team vs. Giants | 1 p.m. | FOX |
| Colts vs. Jaguars | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| Steelers vs. Ravens | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| Titans vs. Texans | 1 p.m. | CBS |
| Saints vs. Falcons | 4:25 p.m. | FOX |
| Jets vs. Bills | 4:25 p.m. | CBS |
| 49ers vs. Rams | 4:25 p.m. | FOX |
| Patriots vs. Dolphins | 4:25 p.m. | CBS |
| Seahawks vs. Cardinals | 4:25 p.m. | FOX |
| Panthers vs. Buccaneers | 4:25 p.m. | CBS |
| Chargers vs. Raiders | 8:20 p.m. | NBC |
NFL broadcast teams for Week 18
Saturday, Jan. 8
| Game | Broadcast team |
| Chiefs vs. Broncos | Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Laura Rutledge |
| Cowboys vs. Eagles | Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Louis Riddick, Lisa Salters |
Sunday, Jan. 9
| Game | Broadcast team |
| Bengals vs. Browns | Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma, Lindsay Czarniak |
| Packers vs. Lions | Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen, Pam Oliver |
| Bears vs. Vikings | Gus Johnson, Aqib Talib, Megan Olivi |
| Washington Football Team vs. Giants | Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston, Jen Hale |
| Colts vs. Jaguars | Greg Gumbel, Adam Archuleta, AJ Ross |
| Steelers vs. Ravens | Ian Eagle, Charles Davis, Evan Washburn |
| Titans vs. Texans | Andrew Catalon, James Lofton, Sherree Burruss |
| Saints vs. Falcons | Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez, Laura Okmin |
| Jets vs. Bills | Kevin Harlan, Trent Green, Melanie Collins |
| 49ers vs. Rams | Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Tom Rinaldi |
| Patriots vs. Dolphins | Spero Dedes, Jay Feely, Jenny Dell |
| Seahawks vs. Cardinals | Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth, Shannon Spake |
| Panthers vs. Buccaneers | Tom McCarthy, Tony Romo, Tracy Wolfson |
| Chargers vs. Raiders | Al Michaels, Chris Collinsworth, Michele Tafoya |
