Tony Romo has made it clear that he wants to be back in the booth, but the final decision is not his.
The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback was the most notable name missing from a high octane Week 1, replaced by J.J. Watt in CBS Sports' number one team, alongside Jim Nantz.
That decision had been taken earlier in the summer after Romo was arrested for operating while intoxicated in July while driving on I-43 in Wisconsin.
While Romo was not fired, the expectation was that he would take a take a step back from his $18million a year broadcasting duties while his long term future was questioned with stars like Greg Olsen linked to the role.
That came to pass when the assignments for Week 1 were confirmed, and Watt was alongside Nantz, stepping up from his number two duties, which were handed to Ross Tucker.
Three-time Defensive Player of the Year Watt has been a rising star in the booth and at the CBS Game Day desk, and he called Minnesota Vikings comeback victory over Green Bay Packers on Sunday.
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Now CBS have made a decision on the next two weeks, and Romo is nowhere to be seen, extending his break to the first three weeks of the season.
It also means Romo will miss out on the high profile NFL International slate, with CBS scheduled to broadcast the game between the Baltimore Ravens and his former team, the Dallas Cowboys in Brazil in Week 3.
Watt has been confirmed to stay in the lead analyst role and he former Houston and Arizona defensive end will call Week 2 when the Pittsburgh Steelers face the New England Patriots, before joining the network in Rio de Janeiro.
It leaves Romo inactive until at least Week 4, at the earliest, but with his legal situation ongoing after the OWI arrest, CBS seem happy to play the waiting game.
Earlier in the summer, a CBS source had been quotes by the Daily Mail as saying 'he might step back a little, short term, but he isn't going anywhere long term.'
That was followed by Romo breaking his silence in early September, just a week before the new NFL season starting, taking ownership over his mistakes.
"This is one of those moments when I am leaning on everything football taught me.
"This morning, I faced a recent personal failure by pleading no contest to a civil offense for OWI in Wisconsin. I own this completely."
He wrapped up the statement by insisting a return to CBS remained his primary goal.
"As I turn my attention to my health, my family, and in time, my return to CBS, I kindly ask for privacy during this period. God bless."
Romo is six years into the groundbreaking 10-year, $180million contract he signed with CBS back in 2020, as his 14 season playing career - all with the Cowboys - ended.
That contract changed the game in the broadcast booth, and the market was reset by Tom Brady's $375million deal with FOX Sports.
His initial time in the booth was greeted warmly, with his insight being completely different to anything offered.
Now, he faces a wait to see when he returns, and whether he will earn his way back into the No. 1 booth, or whether a parting of the ways with CBS becomes a possibility.
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