Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian announced that starting quarterback Quinn Ewers is "week-to-week" due to a shoulder injury suffered on his throwing arm (right) during the 31-24 win over Houston in Week 8. The sophomore from Southlake Carroll was 23 of 29 for 211 yards and two touchdowns in three-plus quarters of action prior to the injury. Backup Maalik Murphy relieved Ewers and went 1 for 2 through the air for seven yards. 

Ewers was enjoying his best season as a collegiate quarterback in 2023. He is completing over 70 percent of his passes and has a 13 to 3 touchdown to interception ratio. Ewers tossed for 1,915 yards and holds a quarterback ranking of 163.74 through seven games played. Murphy, who is expected to be the starter in the Week 9 game against BYU, has played in four games this season and is 4-of-8 though the air for 47 yards in relief duty. 

The elephant in the room is five-star Arch Manning. Because of his last name and recruiting profile, Texas fans are chomping at the bit to see what the football royal can do behind center in burnt orange. Murphy was clearly the second-best quarterback in the spring, however, and the plan was always to redshirt Manning in 2023, if possible. Players can participate in four games before burning a redshirt, so Manning can play over the next few weeks as the second-string quarterback and retain his redshirt if he avoids playing in a fifth game. 

Texas hopes Ewers will be back by the end of the season in what the Longhorns hope includes a Big 12 championship game. Sources confirmed to DCTF that Ewers is suffering from an AC joint sprain that usually requires 3 to 4 weeks to improve. Texas is at home the next two weeks with contests against BYU and Kansas State. The Longhorns are on the road against TCU and Iowa State after that. They return home in Week 13 for a game against Texas Tech.