Texas star QB Quinn Ewers (abdomen) exits vs. UTSA

Field Level Media|published: 09/14/2024, 9:07pm EDT

Texas Longhorns Head Coach Steve Sarkisian, center, speaks with quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) moments before Ewers left the game early in the second quarter of the Longhorns' game against the UTSA Roadrunners at Darrell K RoyalÐTexas Memorial Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.

Texas star quarterback Quinn Ewers exited Saturday's game against UTSA early in the second quarter due to a strained abdomen, coach Steve Sarkisian told ESPN in a halftime interview.

Ewers, a leading Heisman Trophy candidate, started to limp off the field before dropping to the turf and calling over to the sideline with 12:19 left in the first half. He was taken to the medical tent for evaluation and was soon ruled out of the contest.

Ewers went to the locker room and returned to the sideline in street clothes.

Ewers completed 14 of 16 passes for 185 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for No. 2 Texas before exiting.

Highly regarded backup Arch Manning replaced Ewers and tossed a 19-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Moore Jr. on his first play.

On Texas' next possession, Manning scored on a 67-yard touchdown run on the second play to give the Longhorns a 28-7 lead.

Ewers threw for 3.479 yards and 22 touchdowns in leading Texas to a Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff appearance last season.

--Field Level Media