Report: Texas QB Quinn Ewers less than 100 percent healthy with high ankle sprain

Concerns about the health of Texas Longhorns redshirt junior quarterback Quinn Ewers continue to circulate on Saturday with ESPN’s Pete Thamel reporting from College Station that the ankle sprain, initially thought to be mild, is actually a high ankle sprain that has left Ewers at less than 100 percent entering the game against Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field.

On the team’s official injury report, Ewers remained listed as probable Friday for the third straight day, but according to Thamel, Texas is ready behind the scenes for the possibility that redshirt freshman quarterback Arch Manning might play against Texas A&M.

It’s a delicate balance for Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian, especially since Ewers received recognition on Senior Day last week, a strong indication that the game against the Aggies is his final regular season game in burnt orange and white.

In the win over Kentucky, Sarkisian erred on the side of playing his third-year starting quarterback, leaving Ewers in the game after suffering an ankle sprain on a hip-drop tackle late in a game. Ewers went into the medical tent to receive treatment before returning to the field.

In the second half, however, Ewers was noticeably limp, unable to move much in the pocket or step into his throws. As a result, Texas attempted just five passes in the second half, leaning heavily on the run game on the decisive 15-play fourth quarter drive that sealed the victory.

Given the apparent poor response of Ewers’ ankle to treatment this week, it’s fair to wonder if Sarkisian made the right decision by keeping Ewers in a game the Horns led 24-7 at halftime.

Now the looming question is how Sarkisian decides to handle it on the road in a rivalry game.