Quinn Ewers, the starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, may not play in the upcoming game against Louisiana-Monroe due to a strained oblique. The injury occurred in the second quarter of their 56-7 victory over UTSA, causing Ewers to leave the game early. He was then replaced by redshirt freshman Arch Manning, who played exceptionally well, connecting on four touchdown passes and scoring a touchdown himself. If Ewers is not cleared to play this weekend, Manning will step in as the starting quarterback.
Prior to his injury, Ewers was playing some of his best football. He had a career-high 73.4 percent pass completion this season and threw for 691 yards, including eight touchdowns and only two interceptions, with an average of 8.7 yards per attempt in just over two quarters. The injury was non-contact; Ewers felt pain when he executed a 49-yard completion to Gunnar Helm. He attempted to continue the game but ended up stepping out after the next snap.
This is not the first time Ewers has been sidelined for medical reasons. Over the past two years, he has missed three games due to a clavicle injury and two games from an AC joint sprain. Coach Steve Sarkisian expressed confidence that Ewers, who has diligently recovered from past injuries and stayed “dialed in” during downtime, will be ready to return once cleared.
In his evaluation of Manning’s performance at the UTSA game, Coach Sarkisian described the young quarterback as “poised and composed”. Manning made intelligent decisions, choosing the right receivers when executing his reads. Sarkisian acknowledged some learning curves, but overall viewed Manning’s performance positively.
As the team awaits word on Ewers’ status, they are adjusting their practice strategies. Sarkisian confirmed that Manning will get more practice reps with the first team. Trey Owens, the third-string quarterback who debuted in the UTSA game, will also get more practice time. Owens will serve as Manning’s backup if Ewers is rendered incapable of playing in the upcoming game.
Despite the potential absence of their star quarterback, the team appears to be well-positioned. They have a promising replacement in Arch Manning, who already demonstrated his skill in the recent game against UTSA. Meanwhile, the rest of the team will continue to train and prepare for their next opponent this weekend.
