ESPN’s Britt McHenry back on the air this weekend following suspension

ESPN reporter Britt McHenry will be back on the air this weekend following her one-week suspension after she was caught on camera making demeaning comments toward a towing company employee.

Sports Illustrated’s Richard Deitsch reported Thursday that McHenry will cover a yet-to-be-determined sporting event for “SportsCenter” this weekend as she resumes her regular schedule of assignments.

That will include next week’s NFL draft, during which McHenry will be covering the St. Louis Rams.

“She’s had the draft assignment for a while and nothing’s changed,” ESPN senior coordinating producer Seth Markman told Deitsch.

In video footage that quickly went viral, an irate McHenry belittles an off-camera employee of Advanced Towing in Arlington, Va., after her car was towed, making disparaging remarks about the woman’s appearance, education level and place of employment.

McHenry later posted an apology to social media, saying, “I allowed my emotions to get the best of me and said some insulting and regrettable things.”

Markman told Deitsch that McHenry and the network are prepared for the inevitable backlash that will accompany her return to the airwaves.

“Listen, it wouldn’t shock me if some people react negatively,” Markman said. “My head hasn’t been buried in the sand. I’ve read a lot on this, and more than anything, she knows she made a mistake. She’s owned up to it. I think she is just really anxious to get back to work.

“We had a conversation where we both talked about that it would take time and it will be hard. She knows that, and especially at the beginning. She realizes she will have to do her job really well and hopefully win back some of the trust of our viewers. We expect that from her, and I expect that from her. She did a great job for us on the NFL last year in some difficult situations and I have seen nothing that doesn’t make me think she will rebound from this. But she knows the first couple of assignments out of the box will not be easy.”

Twitter: @chewkiii