The Texas Longhorns will see a change at quarterback this Saturday night, as freshman sensation Arch Manning is set to start against Louisiana-Monroe. Manning steps in for Quinn Ewers, who will miss his sixth career game due to an oblique injury sustained during last week’s matchup against UTSA.
Fortunately for Texas, Ewers’ injury does not appear to be as severe as some of the issues that sidelined him during previous seasons.
This optimism comes from ESPN college football insider Pete Thamel, who provided an encouraging update on Ewers’ status during College GameDay on Saturday morning.
“I was told just yesterday that Quinn Ewers’ injured oblique has improved significantly this week,” Thamel reported. “We’ll get a sense early next week of whether he returns to practice, and a week from today, when we’re in Tuscaloosa, I have a feeling we’ll be playing the will-he-won’t-he game for the Mississippi State game.”
Despite the injury, the Longhorns remain hopeful Ewers will be back in action for their SEC opener against Mississippi State on September 28.
However, as head coach Steve Sarkisian did when announcing Manning’s start this week, it’s expected that he’ll keep the decision regarding Ewers under wraps until closer to game time.
Fans are anxiously awaiting Ewers’ return, especially with the high-stakes Red River Rivalry against Oklahoma looming. Thamel noted that, barring setbacks, the “overwhelming expectation” is that Ewers will be ready for the iconic showdown.
Sarkisian has been clear about where Ewers stands, despite the excitement surrounding Manning.
“One thing Steve Sarkisian has made crystal clear this week is that Quinn Ewers is Texas’ quarterback. There is no controversy,” Thamel emphasized. “I think he heard the Arch hype-train coming, and he made it a point to say, ‘We have a national championship team, and Quinn is our quarterback.’”
So far this season, Ewers has been impressive, completing 58 of 79 passes for 691 yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions. His absence, while notable, is mitigated by the talent of Manning.
Arch Manning, the highly touted freshman, has already showcased his potential in limited action.
In the game against UTSA, Manning completed 9 of 12 passes for 223 yards and four touchdowns, all without throwing an interception. He also electrified fans with a 67-yard rushing touchdown, proving he’s more than capable of leading the offense in Ewers’ absence.
With Manning at the helm, No. 1 Texas is set to kick off against Louisiana-Monroe at 7 p.m. CT.
The Texas Longhorns will look to keep their undefeated season intact and buy Quinn Ewers the time he needs to fully recover, all while hoping to see their star quarterback back in time for the critical conference stretch ahead.
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