AUSTIN, Texas — Will Quinn Ewers return for the Red River Rivalry game on Saturday? Texas Longhorns‘ head coach Steve Sarkisian seems to think it’s likely.
“If we had to play today, sure,” Sarkisian said Monday of Ewers’ status as the starter.
Sarkisian said Ewers practiced last week and again early Monday, and that his recovery from an abdominal injury will be monitored all week.
“I thought he looked good,” Sarkisian said. “I feel good about him going Saturday, but that remains to be seen.”
The Longhorns had a bye last week, and Sarkisian said if anyone benefited from the time off, it was Ewers. The quarterback missed Texas’ previous two games after leaving in the first half of a victory over UTSA with a strained abdomen.
While Ewers has been out, Arch Manning has started in his place, leading Texas to wins over Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State. Sarkisian noted Monday that he has “no hesitation of Arch going into the game” against Oklahoma if it comes to that.
This season, Ewers has passed for 691 yards and eight touchdowns, garnering attention as a Heisman Trophy contender. The Associated Press notes that his expected return against Oklahoma on Saturday is similar to 2022, when he missed three games because of a clavicle injury but returned to lead Texas to a 49-0 victory over the Sooners.
Texas is ranked No. 1 again this week after dropping to No. 2 following the win over Mississippi State. The Longhorns will face their bitter rivals, No. 18 Oklahoma, at 2:30 p.m. at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.