Steve Sarkisian lends insight into plan for quarterbacks Quinn Ewers, Arch Manning

Texas suffered just about every team’s worst fear early this season when starting quarterback Quinn Ewers went down with an abdominal injury in the second quarter of the UTSA game.

But unlike many programs around the country, the Longhorns were well-equipped to sustain it.

Former No. 1 overall recruit Arch Manning has stepped right in and performed admirably since, helping Texas reel off two more wins to reach 5-0 on the season. Now the inevitable question of what happens when Ewers returns looms.

Coach Steve Sarkisian shed some light on his plan going forward, though he didn’t nail down the particulars.

Suffice it to say, though, that he doesn’t plan on crafting a system where both quarterbacks, Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning, play going forward. That’s just not in the cards. It’s not who he is as a head coach and it goes against his core belief about quarterback play.

“When I was a starter I never wanted the backup coming in the game, even for a play,” Sarkisian said Wednesday on an SEC teleconference call. “And I remember my senior year of college, I had been banged up and coaches wanted to run a quarterback draw. And they called the play and I scored a touchdown. So I’ve got respect for a guy that’s a starting quarterback and the rhythm that is needed to play with, so no that’s not something I’ve ever entertained.”

So the question becomes will Sarkisian break with his own precedent or will he have to choose between one of the two to start?

The intrigue looms large as the Red River Rivalry fast approaches.

Steve Sarkisian provides Quinn Ewers update

The Texas head coach provided a brief injury update on Quinn Ewers during his media availability on Tuesday.

“He’s just rehabbing as he has been,” Sarkisian said. “I think he’s been making steady progress one day to the next, which is a good sign. We haven’t had any setbacks, it’s been steady progress. I think he’s getting stronger and more comfortable and more confident, and so we’ll just kind of stay the course with that.”

So what would Sarkisian need to see to go back to Ewers at the position?

“He’s got to do enough to show me he can play,” Sarkisian said. “I know that’s probably not the answer you wanted, but that’s what I mean. We’ve got a game plan. Can he execute the game plan? I hate to pare it down to that but that’s really the truth. I want to make sure he’s healthy enough to play at a high level. Can he go operate the game plan we have in place for him?”