AUSTIN – Quinn Ewers was close to playing for the Texas Longhorns in their SEC opener against Mississippi State. In fact, his status for the game remained uncertain right up until Saturday’s kickoff.
This suggests that with two more weeks of rehabilitation, Ewers could be ready for the Longhorns’ annual trip to Dallas for the Red River Rivalry, though this is still to be determined.
Ewers suffered an abdominal strain during Texas’ 56-7 victory over UTSA in Week 3, which has kept him sidelined for the past two games.
On Monday, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian provided an update on Ewers’ recovery progress.
“He’s been focused on rehab and making steady progress day by day, which is encouraging,” Sarkisian said. “We haven’t encountered any setbacks. He’s getting stronger and more comfortable, so we’ll continue to monitor his progress.”
If all goes well over the next couple of weeks, it appears Ewers could be set to return for the October 12 matchup against the Oklahoma Sooners, which would be excellent news for the Longhorns facing a strong Oklahoma defense.
While the Oklahoma offense allowed 338 passing yards to a struggling Auburn team, the talent on the Sooners’ defense remains significant. Having Ewers back for a matchup known for its unpredictability could prove crucial.
Should Ewers be unable to play, Arch Manning has shown he can step up.
“We need Quinn back because he’s our quarterback and our leader,” Sarkisian stated Saturday. “That impacts the team’s confidence. However, what we’ve learned is that Arch has earned our trust over the last two and a half games. When Quinn returns, we’ll all be excited, but it’s a luxury to know we have Arch’s experience as well.”
Before his injury, Ewers was performing at a Heisman-caliber level, completing 73.4% of his passes for 691 yards, eight touchdowns, and two interceptions in just over nine quarters.
If he can resume where he left off, he still has a strong chance to contend for accolades before the season ends.
“With the upcoming games, Ewers has the potential to be in New York for the Heisman, regardless of whether he wins it,” Sarkisian said. “I believe he has the capability to be a top-five NFL Draft pick. All his goals remain achievable, and missing this game won’t hinder his pursuit of those objectives.”
