Kirk Herbstreit addresses Quinn Ewers injury, if Arch Manning should play vs. Texas A&M

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers has been dealing with an ankle injury throughout the week after getting hurt against Kentucky in Week 13.

Questions surrounding his status, or if he’s even ready to suit up in time for the regular season finale against Texas A&M have made the rounds since it was revealed he was banged up. Ahead of ESPN College GameDay, Kirk Herbstreit weighed in whether or not the Longhorns will have to turn to backup Arch Manning during the pivotal road trip.

“If Quinn Ewers is healthy, this is his team,” Herbstreit said on SportsCenter. “There’s no issue. If you talk to Sark, it doesn’t even really get brought up. Now, if the ankle doesn’t hold up, if he’s limping, then that’s a different story. Then obviously you’ve got to go to Arch Manning. With his ability to run, even their offense would change a bit with Arch in there.

“This is an offense, if you talk to Sark, they’re coming into this game completely thinking that Quinn Ewers is going to be their quarterback. Their attack and their plan and how they want to try to move the ball is with Quinn Ewers.”

According to reports on Sunday following Texas’ victory over Kentucky, Ewers is nursing a “mild ankle sprain,” but is expected be ready to go for Saturday’s game. It was previously reported earlier on Sunday that Ewers was to undergo a “precautionary MRI” after injuring his ankle in the Week 13 matchup.

His injury didn’t stop him from finishing the game, or leading the Longhorns to a 31-14 over the Wildcats at home last Saturday. He comepleted 20 of his 31 passing attempts against Kentucky for 191 yards and two touchdowns. He said his ankle was “tender” postgame but all signs have pointed toward him starting against the Aggies.

“I think the only time you would see Arch Manning come in is if that ankle is just not holding up,” Herbstreit continued. “And then they would, obviously, like any other backup quarterback have to go to him. But yeah, Arch Manning, for obvious reasons, creates a lot of a lot of interest there in Bristol.”

Of course, Texas had start Manning twice earlier this season while Ewers nursed an oblique injury. As expected, the former five-star recruit was impressive during that stretch. With Ewers likely off the the NFL after this season, Manning is expected to be the starter in 2025 and beyond. Although, many Longhorns fans would likely say he’s ready to start now, but Ewers’ expereince appears to trump Manning’s potential in-house.

For now, as long as Ewers’ ankle holds up, Herbstreit expects it to be business as usual under center for the Longhorns vs. Texas A&M.

The a spot in the SEC Championship on the line, kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from inside Kyle Field live on ABC.