Cris Collinsworth's Surprise Absence from Bengals-Ravens Broadcast Sparks Social Media Frenzy
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NFL fans were left scratching their heads on Thanksgiving as Cris Collinsworth, the veteran color commentator, failed to appear in the booth for the Bengals' Week 13 matchup against the Ravens. Taking his place was Jason Garrett, a former NFL head coach, who faced a barrage of criticism on social media. In a surprise move, Collinsworth and play-by-play partner Mike Tirico revealed during the closing moments of NBC's Thanksgiving broadcast that Garrett would be handling color commentary duties for Collinsworth's absence. Collinsworth, who marked his 500th career broadcast on NBC's Sunday Night Football, is set to rejoin Tirico for NBC's Sunday broadcast. As the Bengals prepared to face the Ravens, Collinsworth weighed in on the team's biggest question: Joe Burrow's status. He noted that the quarterback has returned to practice and holds significant influence over decisions. Burrow echoed the urgency earlier in the week, telling reporters that the Bengals "pretty much have to win every game" to keep their playoff hopes alive. Collinsworth also suggested that the choice to play Burrow becomes even more intriguing if Cincinnati believes it can sweep Baltimore. Cris Collinsworth is a Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver turned Emmy Award-winning NBC Sunday Night Football color commentator. A three-time Pro Bowler with the Cincinnati Bengals (1981-1988), he caught 417 passes for 6,698 yards and 36 TDs, starring in Super Bowls XVI and XXIII. Known for his detailed preparation and signature "Now here's a guy..." phrase, Collinsworth has called 11 Super Bowls and co-founded Pro Football Focus (PFF).
