The Texas Longhorns are taking on the No.1 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide Saturday, and were very competitive in the first half. Despite coming into the game as 21-point underdogs, they had the score tied 10-10 at the half.
These two teams last played against each other in the 2010 BCS national championship game. In that game, Texas lost their starting quarterback Colt McCoy to an injury. Unfortunately for the Longhorns, they dealt with a bit of déjà vu in the first quarter of Saturday’s game.
Early on, Texas freshman quarterback Quinn Ewers led two successful drives that resulted in points against a tough Alabama defense. But Ewers wound up injuring his shoulder following a hit on the one-yard line. That led to a roughing the passer call against Crimson Tide linebacker Dallas Turner.
Quinn Ewers walks off the field after taking a big hit pic.twitter.com/ByzwkrNi8q
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 10, 2022
Ewers was able to walk off the field on his own power after landing on his shoulder, but did not come back during the remainder of the first half.
Many have taken to social media to express just how unfortunate this injury is for Texas in what has been a very close game to this point.
I hate this for Quinn Ewers and this Texas team. I don't know the outcome of this game or this season, but I loved the spark he was giving this offense. Horns are digging deep today, but this is a gut punch… #HookEm
— Garrett Sanders (@CowboyTD) September 10, 2022
https://twitter.com/PhilipTortora/status/1568644449202225154
That’s a bummer, excellent start to biggest game of early career for @QuinnEwers. A couple or excellent throws and poised early. See if he returns. https://t.co/BYHSMH4Wje
— Dylan Scott (@DylanScottTV) September 10, 2022
https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1568643990710538240
Even after a Texas TD, the crowd feels sapped after that Quinn Ewers injury. Season-long implications
— Trey Scott (@TreyScott247) September 10, 2022
Before the injury, Ewers was having an excellent game in what is probably the biggest game of his football career to this point, completing 9-of-12 passes for 134 yards in the first quarter alone.
There has not been any further update to this point on his status for the rest of the game. But it certainly looks like an ugly injury that could have major implications for the rest of the season for Texas.
Texas will now lean on sophomore quarterback Hudson Card to make an impact for the rest of the game in relief of Ewers. But this brutal injury may have Texas fans questioning how they would have done if Ewers never took that hit.
[Fox College Football; photo from Scott Wachter/USA Today Sports]
About Reice Shipley
Reice Shipley is a staff writer for Comeback Media that graduated from Ithaca College with a degree in Sports Media. He previously worked at Barrett Sports Media and is a fan of all things Syracuse sports.