Report: Texas' Quinn Ewers Taking QB1 Reps Ahead of Arch Manning Before OU Game

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is reportedly back.

While the signal-caller missed the Longhorns' last two games because of an abdominal strain, Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods.com reported he took the first-team reps over Arch Manning during Tuesday's practice.

Texas is on a bye week and next plays rival Oklahoma on Oct. 12.

A source told Richardson that, "Quinn is playing [against Oklahoma]. No way he misses this game or the rest of the season. He wants to win the SEC and a Natty."

This comes after head coach Steve Sarkisian provided an update Monday.

"We haven't had any setbacks," Sarkisian told reporters. "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."

Fortunately for Texas, it still defeated UL Monroe and Mississippi State without its starting quarterback thanks to the presence of Manning. The nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning and the No. 1 overall player in the class of 2023, per 247Sports' composite rankings, also played against UTSA after Ewers exited with the injury.

Manning played well and has completed 70.5 percent of his passes for 900 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions while adding 82 yards and three scores on the ground as a runner this season.

Yet it was Ewers who turned heads during the Longhorns' most notable game of the season to this point.

He went 24-of-36 for 246 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions while leading Texas to a dominant 31-12 road victory over the reigning-champion Michigan Wolverines. The game wasn't even as close as the final score indicated, as the SEC team largely dialed it back on offense in the second half.

It was the type of performance that could resonate with Heisman Trophy voters down the line, especially if he returns and continues to play at a high level in SEC play.

The next two games for the Longhorns are against the Sooners and Georgia Bulldogs, so there won't be much time to adjust for Ewers as he returns to the field. But the bye week at least means he will have additional practice reps for a team that has realistic national title aspirations.