On Quinn Ewers’ first two drives against No. 1 ranked Alabama on Saturday, he led Texas to a field goal and touchdown. However, a play before star RB Bijan Robinson would punch in the one-yard score, Ewers landed awkwardly on his left shoulder and left the field in obvious pain. Will Ewers miss any games this season, and if so, what does it mean for the Longhorns?
Quinn Ewers suffers sprained clavicle
The Crimson Tide’s star-studded defense struggled to slow down Ewers, who had completed 9 of 12 attempts for 134 yards before leaving the game. He routinely pushed the ball downfield and played with poise and confidence you wouldn’t expect from a redshirt freshman against a Nick Saban-led defense. And although the Longhorns continued to force punts out of Bryce Young and Co., backup QB and 2021 starter Hudson Card simply lacked the dynamism Eewrs brought.
It didn’t help that Card was clearly hobbled by a left ankle injury that disrupted his base and thus his throwing mechanics. He was noticeably off on downfield throws and needed to use his arm more than a weight transfer to generate power. Still, he did enough to keep the game competitive throughout, with Alabama needing a game-winning field goal from Will Reichard to stave off the Longhorns.
It’s reasonable to wonder, “What if Ewers never got hurt?” But that’s for a future article and fans to contemplate for weeks and months to come. For now, the immediate impact of Ewers’ injury is most crucial.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Ewers underwent an MRI following the contest that led to a sternoclavicular (where the sternum meets the clavicle) sprain diagnosis. The team expects him to be out 4-6 weeks, making the earliest he could return the Red River Showdown vs. Oklahoma on Oct. 8.
However, another report from Rivals’ Anwar Richardson stated Ewers has two sprains on his clavicle. A former FBS athletic trainer told PFN, “I bet he’s back in three [weeks]. … The hardest part of SC injuries is that there is no way to support, brace, or protect them. … This could change things IF it’s more than the SC.”
With there being no direct way to support the area or ease pain (outside of medication), when Ewers returns will likely come down to pain management. QBs are rotational athletes, and the force that is required to heave passes 40+ yards downfield is immense. Texas will want to play it safe with their rising star, who transferred from Ohio State this offseason after earning the first 1.0000 composite ranking by a QB since … Vince Young.
What’s next for Texas?
The Longhorns’ schedule isn’t easy leading up to the Oklahoma contest. Next up: vs. UTSA, at Texas Tech, vs. West Virginia. UTSA is fresh off back-to-back overtime bouts against an impressive Houston team, as well as Army, which is never an easy matchup. Meanwhile, Texas Tech just knocked off said Houston squad, and West Virginia will be on a revenge tour after losing in nail-biting fashion the first two weeks of the season.
Can Card eke out three victories until Ewers can step on the field again? If his ankle injury doesn’t carry over, it’s possible. Card was a four-star prospect himself and led Texas to a 1-3 record in games he threw 10+ passes as a redshirt freshman in 2021. In total, he completed 51 of 83 passes for 590 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception. It was Steve Sarkisian’s first year in Austin, so another season in the system could provide a step up in production.
But Card needs to improve throwing downfield and outside the numbers. He can also utilize his legs more, as he was the No. 2 dual-threat in the 2020 class. The physical ability is there to be an above-average college QB — Card simply has to trust in his tools and playmakers to be more than a game manager.
There is a different feel surrounding this Texas team. Every year, Texas is seemingly “back,” but if Card can keep the boat afloat and Ewers returns with few lingering issues, the Longhorns will compete for a Big 12 title. And in 2023, the ceiling could be even higher.