How long is Quinn Ewers out for? Texas QB's potential return timeline explored

The Texas Longhorns will be without their Heisman Trophy-contending star quarterback Quinn Ewers for this week's matchup against the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks.

In his absence, backup quarterback Arch Manning will start for the Longhorns. Manning took over last week's game against UTSA after Quinn Ewers went down with an injury in the second quarter.

ESPN analyst Pete Thamel spoke about when Ewers could return.

"I was told just yesterday that Quinn Ewers' injured oblique has improved significantly this week," Thamel said. "We'll get a sense early next week of whether he returns to practice, and a week from today, when we're in Tuscaloosa, I have a feeling we'll be playing the will-he-won't-he game for the Mississippi State game."

Manning performed so well that some fans were even calling for him to keep the job when Ewers comes back. However, Thamel shut down those rumors.

"What these fans want to know is, will he be back for Red River? The overwhelming expectation is that he will be back in that game, barring any setbacks. One thing Steve Sarkisian has made crystal clear this week is that Quinn Ewers is Texas' quarterback. There is no controversy," Thamel added.

"I think he heard the Arch hype-train coming, and he made it a point to say, 'We have a national championship team, and Quinn is out quarterback.'"

The thing that stands out most about those comments is that Ewers is expected back for the Red River rivalry game. That is the game between Texas and Oklahoma on October 12th. However, Thamel does think there is a possibility that Quinn Ewers could return as early as next week against Mississippi State.

Steve Sarkisian comments on Quinn Ewers' status

With Ewers out for this week's game against Louisiana-Monroe, many of the questions reporters asked Steve Sarkisian had to do with his injured quarterback.

"Quinn has made great strides ever since Saturday night into where he's gotten to," Sarkisian said about Ewers on Thursday. "But my decision is I'm looking forward to his future as a player, but also the future of the season for us. And getting him possibly one more week healthier for the long term, I think, is good for us as we're getting ready for SEC play."

From those comments, it is clear that the Longhorns will not risk Ewers' long-term health to get him back early. They will wait until he is fully healthy to get him back into games for Texas.