Texas QB Quinn Ewers leaves UTSA game with ‘strained abdomen,’ Arch Manning throws TD on next play

Texas QB Quinn Ewers left the No. 2 Longhorns’ 56-7 win over UTSA on Saturday with what appeared to be a non-contact injury.

Ewers gingerly walked to the sideline after he appeared to pull up after a handoff in the second quarter. He was replaced by Arch Manning, who threw a touchdown pass to give Texas a 21-0 lead.

Ewers was 14-of-16 for 185 yards and two touchdowns before he was taken to the medical tent on the Texas sideline. After he was examined in the tent, a dejected Ewers made a slow walk to the Texas locker room with a towel over his head. Not long after Ewers went to the locker room, he returned to the sideline without his uniform on.

Ewers was captured ESPN’s cameras motioning to the left side of his midsection while talking to people on the Texas sideline late in the half. In his halftime interview with the network, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said he had a “strained abdomen.”

Manning, meanwhile, threw that TD pass on his first attempt after coming into the game. It was a 19-yard strike to DeAndre Moore Jr.

Manning, the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, has been the No. 2 quarterback for the Longhorns since the College Football Playoff in January. After UTSA cut Texas’ lead to 21-7, Manning rushed for a 67-yard TD on his third play after replacing Ewers.

Ewers has missed time due to shoulder injuries in each of his two seasons as Texas’ starter. He injured his right throwing shoulder in a game against Alabama in 2022 and injured his left shoulder against Houston in 2023. Ewers missed two games after he was hurt against the Cougars a season ago and replaced by Maalik Murphy. He’s now the starting quarterback at Duke after transferring at the end of the regular season.

Manning accounted for five touchdowns before he was replaced by Trey Owens in the fourth quarter as Texas had a 49-7 lead. Manning finished 9-of-12 passing for 223 yards and four touchdown passes including a 75-yard score to freshman wide receiver Ryan Wingo.

Manning did struggle briefly against the pass rush after his first two touchdowns and finished with 53 rushing yards after a pair of sacks.