AUSTIN, Texas — When the Texas Longhorns face the University of Louisiana Monroe (ULM) on Saturday, it's still unclear if quarterback Quinn Ewers will suit up.
Ewers left the field in the second quarter of the Longhorns' game against UTSA last weekend after suffering an abdominal strain. According to Coach Steve Sarkisian, the injury was not caused by contact. Ewers was hurt on a deep pass to tight end Gunnar Helm two plays before he left the game. The next play was a handoff, and the starting quarterback signaled to medical staff before laying on the field, then heading to the locker room.
Now it's unclear when Ewers will return to the field, with Sark calling his return for the ULM game "questionable."
"We’re going to monitor [Ewers] day to day and see what this looks like,” Sarkisian said during a press conference Monday, later adding, "On the release, he just feels it. He realized he needs to get it looked at."
Coach Sark also said Ewers is hoping to return soon.
"From Quinn's perspective, I think Quinn, he just wants to keep playing, you know? I mean, he doesn't – nobody wants to have to come out of a game because you get injured," Sark said. "I think if you ask Quinn today, he's fired up."
Though Longhorn fans might be a little nervous at the uncertainty surrounding the starting QB's injury, there's also high confidence in his backup, second-year freshman Arch Manning.
Manning took over the offense during the UTSA game following Ewers' departure, passing for four touchdowns and running another. If Ewers is unable to play against ULM on Saturday, Manning will get his first career start.
Texas is currently ranked No. 1 in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2008.