The Texas Longhorns may have to use redshirt freshman Arch Manning as a starter for the first time in his collegiate career, while head coach Steve Sarkisian listed Heisman Trophy candidate Quinn Ewers as “questionable” for this week's game against Louisiana-Monroe, according to Yahoo Sports.
Ewers collapsed in the second quarter against Texas with abdominal tightness and left the field in obvious discomfort, with Manning coming off the bench to take Ewers' place and lead the offense.
Ewers was in street clothes when he returned from the locker room, having completed 14 of 16 attempts for 185 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, clearly calling it a day.
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Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) leaves the game early in the second quarter during the Longhorns' game against the UTSA Roadrunners on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024 at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. (image)
The injury wasn't a contact injury, which is usually a concern for any athlete. Ewers said the pain started while completing a 49-yard pass to tight end Gunner Helm, and was confirmed on the next play while passing to the running back.
“He just felt it when he was releasing it,” Sarkisian told The Athletic about Ewers' pass play. “I think he thought it was going to go away somehow, so he had one more play left and then he realized, 'Maybe I need to get this looked at. Something's not right.'”
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If Ewers has to sit out, Sarkisian will be confident he can get the job done against Louisiana-Monroe, as Manning has been outstanding since taking the field against UTSA.
Manning made an immediate impact on his first drive by finding DeAndre Moore Jr. for a 19-yard touchdown, then he used his leg power to score a 67-yard touchdown run.
A trainer tends to Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) during a game against UTSA at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Austin. (image)
Overall, Manning threw four touchdown passes and completed 9 of 12 passes for 223 yards.
If Ewers does miss the game, it will be his third straight year out with an injury. In 2023, when the Longhorns made the College Football Playoff, Ewers missed two games with a sprained AC joint, but it wasn't Manning who backed him up.
Malik Murphy, who transferred to Duke University this offseason, was Ewers' backup last season.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) holds up the horn sign after the team's 56-7 victory over UTSA at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, in Austin. (image)
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Sarkisian said Ewers will “change every week,” but it's certainly worth watching what the Longhorns do this week in terms of who's running the offense.
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