Quinn Ewers, Isaiah Bond injury update: ESPN broadcast gives critical update on key Texas star injuries

Texas is set to host the program’s first-ever College Football Playoff home game, welcoming Clemson to Austin. A few injuries were a storyline for the Longhorns heading into the game, specifically on the offensive side. The status of left tackle Kelvin Banks and wide receiver Isaiah Bond has been in question ever since the SEC Championship game.

ESPN’s Laura Rutledge provided an update just moments before kickoff, giving out both good news and bad news. Banks will be out there for Texas, protecting Quinn Ewers. However, the quarterback will not have one of his top targets.

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“Isaiah Bond, the wide receiver for Texas, won’t play,” Rutledge said. “He’s still dealing with an ankle injury that he suffered in the SEC Championship game. They’re excited about Ryan Wingo behind him. And Texas gets back their star left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr., that’s a nice boost.”

Banks briefly went through warmups before the Georgia game but found himself in street clothes before the game began. Trevor Goosby was the replacement in Atlanta and for most of the season finale against Texas A&M.

As for Bond, his original ankle injury occurred in October when Texas was facing Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout. Late in the SEC title game, the wide receiver got rolled up on again and reaggravated the issue. It’s now cost him in the CFP vs. Clemson.

Rutledge mentioned some confidence in Wingo, a true freshman. Wingo played high school football at Saint Louis (MO) St. Louis University, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 38 overall recruit in the 2024 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Going back to Ewers, he has been dealing with injuries for multiple weeks himself. He was always going to play against Clemson but an ankle injury required a brace down the stretch. Rutledge says Texas and head coach Steve Sarkisian are ready to let Ewers work at full strength.

“Quinn Ewers, the quarterback, feeling much better,” Rutledge said. “Not wearing the ankle brace on the outside of his ankle. They’re ready to let him loose today.”