Texas needs to play starting quarterback Quinn Ewers on Saturday if he is in reasonable health. We’ve seen enough.
Ahead of last week’s game against Kansas State you could have argued that the Longhorns should rest Ewers for the TCU game. You can no longer make that contention. If he’s ready to go, you have to play him.
Ewers’ backup Maalik Murphy had a strong start against the Kansas State Wildcats. The California product started the game a scorching 7-for-11 for 152 yards. Murphy’s downfield passing ability was perhaps the primary reason Texas built a 17-0 first half lead. His playmaking ability is unquestionable. His decision making simply put the game in jeopardy.
You know how the rest of the game went. Murphy gift wrapped two interceptions to Kansas State. Two other passes hit K-State defenders in the hands only to fall harmlessly to the ground. The same quarterback that was the reason Texas built the lead was the reason the team lost it. In half a quarter of play, the Longhorns went from leading 27-7 to a 27-27 tie.
Things don’t get all that much easier this week. The team faces one of the more talent laden pass defenses in the Big 12 in TCU. In conference play, the Horned Frogs are as stingy as it gets surrendering just 197.2 yards per game to Big 12 foes.
There is risk to rushing Ewers back. Certainly, if re-injury is of significant concern, you would have to hold him back. But more than anything, Texas needs its quarterback not to give the game away.
We will see if Ewers is ready to go when Texas faces TCU on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. CT on ABC.