The Texas Longhorns face a must-win situation to secure their spot in the SEC Championship Game, and standing in their way is a formidable challenge: their longtime rival, the Texas A&M Aggies. To come out on top, they might have to overcome the Aggies with a banged-up quarterback.
The latest update on Quinn Ewers’ injury not only casts doubt on his availability for the showdown against A&M but also dampens Texas’ chances of pulling off a crucial victory.
What Happened to Quinn Ewers?
Put simply, Quinn Ewers is just worn down. His ankle sprain might be more significant than originally thought.
Ewers tweaked his ankle during Texas’ Week 13 win over Kentucky, and while imaging tests showed no structural damage, the recovery hasn’t gone as smoothly as Texas had hoped. As the week progressed, signs pointed to the injury lingering more than expected.
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While Ewers did take first-team reps in practice this week, it was clear he wasn’t operating at full capacity. According to Horns247, Ewers was limited during his work with the starters, raising questions about how ready he’ll be for game day.
“Quinn took the first snaps with the first team, but he was definitely limited,” the post said.
Ewers was reportedly seen in a stiff brace during Tuesday and Wednesday practices and one of two things can be true here: he’s not responding to treatment or the Longhorns are being extra cautious.
If Ewers cannot go, Arch Manning will play. Signs point toward Ewers at least giving it a go with head coach Steve Sarkisian reportedly having a very close leash on pulling him if he doesn’t appear to be 100%.
Texas’ Playoff Chances Entering Week 14
The Longhorns are as close to a playoff lock as any team in the nation not-named Oregon. Even if they lose to Texas A&M on Saturday, their postseason spot seems all but secure.
Beating A&M would punch their ticket to the SEC Championship Game, setting up a showdown with Georgia. A win there would secure a first-round bye, but even a loss to the Bulldogs would likely keep them in the playoff mix.
According to our simulation model, Texas has a 99.8% chance to make the playoffs. Still, there’s always the unpredictable nature of the committee’s decisions to consider.
With or without Quinn Ewers, the Longhorns are poised for the postseason. But with the SEC title in reach, leaving it all on the field against A&M is crucial.
CFN will continue to monitor Ewers’ status heading into Saturday’s game against the Aggies.
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