Texas QB Ewers ruled out, replaced by Manning

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers exited the No. 2 Longhorns’ game against UTSA on Saturday night because of a strained abdomen, according to coach Steve Sarkisian.

Ewers went to the locker room in the second quarter and returned to Texas’ sideline in street clothes before halftime. Abdominal muscle strains typically require a recovery time of several weeks. The redshirt junior threw for 185 yards on 14-for-16 passing with two touchdowns and an interception against the Roadrunners.

Touted backup Arch Manning replaced Ewers with 12:19 left in the second quarter. The former five-star recruit threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Moore Jr. on his first snap then scored his first career rushing touchdown on a 67-yard run on his next drive.

Ewers entered the weekend as the consensus favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, listed at 5-1 at ESPN BET after throwing for 246 yards and three touchdowns in a rout of No. 10 Michigan last Saturday. His odds lengthened to 15-1 on Saturday night after the injury, while Manning’s Heisman odds moved dramatically, shortening from 150-1 to 22-1 at ESPN BET.

Miami quarterback Cam Ward emerged as the consensus favorite to win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday at sportsbooks. Ward was listed at 5-1 at ESPN BET on Saturday night.

Ewers previously sat out two games during the 2023 season because of an injured right shoulder and sat out three games in 2022 after suffering a severe sprain of his SC joint.