Texas Football: Quinn Ewers status trending in right direction this week

The biggest storyline on the injury front this week for No. 7 Texas football is the status of redshirt sophomore quarterback Quinn Ewers. Texas’ No. 1 quarterback has missed the last two starts due to a Grade 2 AC joint sprain he suffered on his throwing (right) shoulder against the Houston Cougars on the road in Week 8.

Head coach Steve Sarkisian updated Ewers’ status in his Monday press conference on Nov. 6, saying he was upgraded from “week-to-week” to “day-to-day”. Sarkisian also said Ewers threw in practice last week. Sark left the conversation regarding Ewers’ injury status at “it’s up to how he feels,” whether he plays in Week 11 against the TCU Horned Frogs.

Texas football QB Quinn Ewers could make his return to the lineup vs. TCU in Week 11

There was more encouraging news regarding Ewers’ status for the TCU game this weekend in an update from Anwar Richardson of Orangebloods on Nov. 7 (subscriber content). Anwar reported that Ewers is “trending in the right direction” in his recovery from the shoulder injury this week leading up to the TCU game.

Anwar looks more optimistic regarding the chances that Ewers will play against TCU this weekend than he did just 48 hours ago. He reported late last weekend that it was essentially a coin flip whether Ewers would play against TCU on Nov. 11.

We could get another update on Ewers’ injury status when Sark takes to the podium for his Thursday press conference on Nov. 9.

Murphy must be ready if Ewers can’t go vs. TCU

Redshirt freshman quarterback Maalik Murphy has started the last two games for the Longhorns, leading the team to a record of 2-0. Murphy had his ups and downs, with three passing touchdowns and three interceptions, in Texas’ wins over the BYU Cougars and No. 23 Kansas State Wildcats in the last two weeks.

If Ewers can’t go this weekend vs. TCU, it would be Murphy’s third consecutive start. It would be Murphy’s first road start, with Texas taking on TCU under the lights at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth on Nov. 11 at 6:30 p.m. CT.