Texas QB Quinn Ewers on track to start against Oklahoma in Week 7

It looks like Texas QB Quinn Ewers will return to the field in Week 7.

Per Rivals’ Orangebloods, Ewers was the first-team quarterback in practice on Tuesday. The Longhorns’ starter has missed the past two games after suffering a strained abdomen in the first half of the team’s Week 3 win over UTSA.

A Week 7 return for Ewers has made the most sense given the way coach Steve Sarkisian has discussed his injury. No. 2 Texas is off in Week 6 ahead of its rivalry game against No. 19 Oklahoma, and resting Ewers in Week 5 against a Mississippi State team that could be the worst in the SEC allowed the QB to get two more weeks of rest at the expense of missing just one more game.

Arch Manning took over for Ewers against UTSA and became the story of Week 3 with his performance. Manning threw for four touchdowns and rushed for another against the Roadrunners. In the two games since, Manning combined for five touchdowns.

Manning threw two TDs and had two interceptions in a mediocre performance against Louisiana-Monroe in Week 4. He was just 15-of-29 passing for 258 yards. Against Mississippi State, Manning was much better. He was 26-of-31 passing for 325 yards and two scores while also rushing six times for 33 yards and a TD as Texas won 35-13.

Before his injury, Ewers was 58-of-79 passing for 691 yards and eight touchdowns. He was 24-of-36 passing for 246 yards and three scores in Texas’ dominating 31-12 win over Michigan in Week 2.

With Ewers likely set to return for Texas’ next game, Manning will return to the No. 2 QB role. After facing Oklahoma in Week 7, the Longhorns host No. 5 Georgia in Week 8 as part of a weekend that could include two top-five matchups in the SEC. No. 1 Alabama also visits No. 4 Tennessee that same day.