Former Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers had his injury timeline revised on Tuesday, as reports from NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero—later confirmed by Josh Newman of LoneStarLive.com and other Texas media outlets—revealed that instead of initially straining his oblique against UTSA, Ewers had actually aggravated or worsened a torn oblique he originally suffered during the road win over Michigan the previous week.
Medically speaking, the distinction is minor since any strain involves some degree of muscle tearing. Referring to it as a torn oblique rather than a strained one is more about emphasizing the severity of the injury. This subtle rebranding highlights the extent to which Ewers played through pain and how the injury affected his core rotation as a passer.
The revised timeline suggests that Ewers’ injury occurred earlier and was more severe than he and his head coach initially let on.
Adding to his challenges, Ewers also played through a high ankle sprain suffered in the regular-season home finale against Kentucky. Despite these setbacks, the redshirt junior pushed through, returning from the torn oblique after missing two games to dominate Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl before falling short in a marquee home matchup against Georgia—often looking just a bit off his usual form.
While discussions of Ewers’ arm talent typically center on his accuracy, low arm slot, and ability to layer intermediate throws, his velocity and precision are still heavily reliant on his core. The mechanics of throwing a football naturally depend on core strength to generate power and maintain an elite release.
The shift in narrative from Ewers’ camp is intended to highlight the importance of his throwing performance at the NFL Combine, an event many top quarterbacks skip since their game film typically speaks for itself. However, Ewers’ film alone doesn’t tell the full story due to the injuries and other factors that hindered his ability to reach his peak potential, regardless of where the blame falls.
Player evaluation often involves reshaping narratives, and for Ewers, his ability to showcase the elite arm talent and accuracy that once made him a top prospect could significantly impact his draft stock. However, if this new timeline of his injuries becomes the accepted version, it also forces a reconsideration of how those setbacks affected Texas’ season. From his struggles against Georgia while dealing with a “torn” oblique to the challenges of playing through a high ankle sprain, his health clearly influenced the Longhorns’ trajectory.
A defining moment in that narrative was the massive hit from Daylen Everette on a cornerback blitz, which led to a critical sack-fumble. Whether the injury is labeled a strain or a tear, that collision played a pivotal role in shifting the game’s momentum and, in turn, the course of the college football season.
Both injuries contributed to Texas landing in the first round of the College Football Playoff, leaving Ewers with less recovery time and adding to the overall wear and tear on the team. Meanwhile, Arch Manning remained largely on the sideline, a presence that subtly altered the dynamics of the program.
Decisions about a star quarterback’s health are among the toughest a head coach faces, and Steve Sarkisian chose to stick with Ewers—the player who came to Austin to revive the program after a 5-7 season and led the Longhorns to the brink of a national championship in back-to-back years, despite suffering three major injuries over that span.
To be fair, this was the same decision that legendary coaches like Nick Saban would have made as well. After all, as Texas icon Darrell K Royal famously said, “Dance with the one who brung ya.” But Manning’s presence complicates that philosophy. A quarterback with the Manning name is the kind of figure who can change everything, regardless of past loyalties.
That reality—loyalty only lasting as long as circumstances allow—is a fundamental part of human nature. Many who help build success ultimately get left behind, a theme that has inspired countless stories across all forms of art.
And that, more than the specifics of his injuries, is the lingering shadow over the way Quinn Ewers’ legacy at Texas will be remembered.
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