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The Texas Longhorns are diving into SEC play, but there’s a bit of a cloud hanging over them because they might not have their starting quarterback, Quinn Ewers, available for Saturday’s matchup against Mississippi State.
Quinn Ewers’ Injury Situation
Ewers had to sit out Texas’ impressive win over Louisiana-Monroe due to an abdominal injury, which puts his status for this week’s game in question. In his absence, Arch Manning stepped in for his first start, where he threw two interceptions but also demonstrated why he was a highly touted five-star recruit.
The Matchup Against Mississippi State
Even with the uncertainty at quarterback, Texas is expected to be a strong favorite at home against Mississippi State, a team struggling with a 1-3 record. The Bulldogs recently faced a heavy defeat at the hands of Toledo, which doesn’t bode well for them. While every game is important, head coach Steve Sarkisian can take some solace in knowing that the tougher part of their SEC schedule is still a bit off.
Updates on Ewers’ Condition
As for Ewers, his availability for the game is still up in the air. Coach Sarkisian shared that Ewers returned to practice on Monday, but it’s too soon to tell if he’ll be ready to play. He mentioned, “If I had to guess, I’d say he’s questionable for Saturday. We’ll see how he progresses during the week.” Sarkisian will evaluate how Ewers responds to practice throughout the week, particularly after heavier workloads on Tuesday and Wednesday.
On Thursday, Sarkisian plans to announce who will start for the game, stating, “It won’t be a secret. We want to give Quinn every chance to show he’s ready.”
Arch Manning’s Progress
Looking at Manning, Sarkisian feels he has a lot of potential to grow but was pleased with how he bounced back after a rocky start in his first game. Given Mississippi State’s struggles, Sarkisian might play it safe with Ewers and let Manning continue if Ewers isn’t at full strength.
Background on Ewers’ Injury
Ewers previously left the Week 3 game against UTSA with a strained oblique muscle, which is an injury along the side of the abdomen. Although it’s a more common injury in baseball players, it’s still not typical for quarterbacks. Thankfully, it doesn’t appear to be serious, and he’s considered week-to-week.
Manning has handled the pressure well so far. Even though he had two turnovers against Louisiana-Monroe, Texas still crushed them 51-3. This win gives them confidence heading into the game against Mississippi State, regardless of whether Ewers is back on the field.
Arch Manning’s Stats
Here are Manning’s key stats for the 2024 season so far:
- Games Played: 3
- Completion Percentage: 61.7%
- Passing Yards: 576
- Touchdowns: 7
- Interceptions: 2
- Rushing Yards: 49
- Rushing Touchdowns: 2
Despite having limited playing time before replacing Ewers, Manning has already scored a total of nine touchdowns. He had a standout performance against UTSA, throwing for five touchdowns in less than a full game, although he did struggle with two interceptions against Louisiana-Monroe.
As Texas prepares for their SEC opener, all eyes will be on Ewers’ recovery and Manning’s continued development as they look to secure another win.