According to head coach Steve Sarkisian, the Heisman contender suffered a “strained abdomen.”

AUSTIN, Texas — Redshirt junior Quinn Ewers, the starting quarterback for the No. 2 Texas Longhorns and an early-season Heisman contender following two strong performances to open the 2024 season, will not return to Saturday’s game against the UTSA Roadrunners after leaving the game early in the second quarter with what head coach Steve Sarkisian described as a “strained abdomen.”

Ewers went down on the field following a handoff on the fourth Texas drive, which started with a 49-yard pass to senior tight end Gunnar Helm.

The coaching staff took Ewers’ helmet as he received attention in the medical tent, he did pull his jersey over his head in frustration as he walked gingerly to the tent.

Ewers eventually left the field with a towel over his head, returning to the sideline late in the half wearing street clothes and was later spotted pointing to his ribs or oblique area on his left side.

With two running backs out with season-ending injuries and junior Jaydon Blue missing the game with a sprained right ankle, Ewers was 14-of-16 passing for 185 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Arch Manning threw a 19-yard touchdown pass on his first play after replacing Ewers, then ran for a 67-yard touchdown on his third play. By the end of the first half, Manning was 3-of-5 passing for 21 yards and a touchdown with three rushes for 53 yards and a touchdown as Texas led 28-7.