Can the Preakness’ venue save a downtrodden Baltimore neighborhood?
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Michael A. Fletcher, ESPN
Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott’s childhood memories of the Preakness Stakes are more about the hardships the famed horse race imposed on his Park Heights neighborhood than any benefits the community reaped from the event. Sure, some enterprising residents and business owners made a few bucks selling water, letting fans park on their lawns and even charging for the use of their bathroom as throngs descended on the aging Pimlico Race Course for the second leg of racing’s Triple Crown.
But mostly, Scott said, he associates the Preakness with choking traffic, onerous parking restrictions and indiscriminate police sweeps aimed at making outsiders feel safe. “On the day before Preakness, you wouldn’t even go outside because they would come and roust people off the corner,” Scott recalled. “When I was growing up, we felt like Preakness was in Park Heights but not for Park Heights.”
Maryland political leaders are wagering $400 million that they can change the decades-old, arm’s-length relationship between the track and the neighborhood. The state legislature has approved a risky plan to use the struggling sport of horse racing to improve struggling Park Heights, a community living in the shadow of Pimlico and long burdened by rampant poverty, crime and disinvestment.
Last week, Gov. Wes Moore signed legislation to let a state-created nonprofit buy crumbling Pimlico from its private owners for $1, raze it and rebuild it with the neighborhood in mind as a profit-sharing partner. Before the community gets its cut, though, the state is obligated to pay $3 million annually to the current owners for rights to the Preakness, plus 2% of betting proceeds from the race — roughly another $2 million. The state also will use some of the $400 million outlay to build a separate horse training facility at one of several proposed sites in the Maryland suburbs.
With meager or no profits to show in recent years, a big question is how much would be left for Park Heights.
State officials said a big part of the track’s problem is its run-down condition. Pimlico dates back to 1870 and is widely recognized as the nation’s second-oldest race course. The facility is showing its age, having not undergone a major renovation in more than a half century. The clubhouse’s ceiling tiles are faded and water-stained. There is no working kitchen, and five years ago, a 6,700-seat section of its grandstand was closed because of safety concerns.
“It is not like anybody’s sneaking out and going to the race track, because it’s not inviting,” said Greg Cross, chair of the Maryland Thoroughbred Racetrack Operating Authority, which developed the Pimlico rebuilding plan. “I mean, why would you want to go there? Our task is to put the sexy back into Pimlico.” Through the years, Maryland lawmakers have made other efforts to prop up horse racing, but Cross said they amounted to “half-steps” that neither elevated the track-going experience nor helped the surrounding community. This time, he said, things will be different.
The commitment to rebuild the track will keep Baltimore as the home of the Preakness — a race that officials long worried could flee the city, and perhaps even the state. Pimlico also will become Maryland’s thoroughbred racing hub, with a new synthetic track touted as the safest surface for horses. Races would be run 140 days a year, up from the 23 dates in 2023. The goal is to uplift the sport’s sagging image and attract a new generation of horse racing fans with modern amenities, including a new clubhouse and a modern sportsbook.
For the community, there will be a 1,000-person event space that could host proms and other large parties, which officials say will create a new income stream for Pimlico. The project includes $10 million in housing for track workers. And Pimlico’s infield would be available for community events like festivals and concerts. There is also the possibility of a hotel, parking garages, retail and other development on the site. The plan calls for allocating 10% of the track’s profits to the neighborhood and exposing local students to racing and hospitality careers.
“The state is betting on itself — and we’re going all in,” Moore responded to an email query. He labeled the investment a “transformative deal” that would benefit both Pimlico and the local community.
Such urban-focused sports and entertainment developments around the country have yielded mixed results. Some investments have worked, but others haven’t paid off for surrounding neighborhoods. And there’s always the danger that success could bring unwanted gentrification. Nevertheless, community leaders agree with Moore that it’s worth a try.
Moore’s optimistic outlook contrasts with the currently bleak state of horse racing, suggesting that Maryland’s bet on Pimlico is far from a sure thing. The sport’s popularity has been declining, with the industry reporting the number of races, fans and betting revenue dwindling across the country as other legal gambling options proliferate. The danger racing poses to horses is a major hurdle in the sport’s bid to generate a new fan base. An estimated 2,000 horses die each year from racing-related injuries, according to Horseracing Wrongs, which advocates abolition of the sport.
In a 2019 poll commissioned by The Jockey Club, an industry group, nearly seven in 10 likely voters called horse fatalities a “very important” issue for the sport.
Attendance at Maryland’s two thoroughbred tracks, Laurel Race Course and Pimlico, was down 66% between 2013 and 2022, even as the number of racing days increased, according to the Maryland Racing Commission, which oversees the state’s horse racing industry. Over the past decade, the tracks averaged just 2,500 fans per day, not including the coronavirus years of 2020 and 2021, according to a state consultant’s report.
Meanwhile, the Stronach Group, the private owner of Pimlico and Laurel, has consistently reported to state officials that it is losing money. Over the past two years, the company said that it did not turn a profit on its most popular event, the Preakness.
So if horse racing is bleeding fans and money, how can it help Park Heights?
Pimlico Race Course sprawls over 140 acres of northwest Baltimore. The grounds are surrounded by tall fences, lined with trees and hedges, offering only glimpses of the concentric racing ovals and bucolic infield from the surrounding streets. The effect has been to wall off the community from what for years was a major economic asset. Pimlico is the most famous building in the neighborhood, but it stands apart from the rest of Park Heights.
The community is home to about 22,000 people, and for generations it has struggled with a host of challenges, including violent crime, widespread drug addiction, truancy and substandard housing.
“When I was a kid, every corner from Park Circle [on the neighborhood’s southern end] up to Rodgers [on the northern end, near Pimlico], was its own different drug shop,” said Scott, who recently turned 40. “The reason I am in public service is because the first time I saw someone shot, I was outside playing basketball at like 6 or 7 years old.”
There are many fine blocks in the neighborhood, some lined with stone-front row homes and tidy lawns. New development, including several apartment buildings and streets filled with rebuilt townhomes, have sprung up in recent years. But more obvious are the hundreds of decaying buildings and acres of vacant lots that scar Park Heights. Some of the vacant land extends for entire blocks, in part the result of a city effort that demolished more than 400 structures in the area since 2010, according to local development officials.
The commercial strips closest to Pimlico are mostly a collection of convenience stores, barber shops, carry-outs and small West Indian restaurants.
Community leaders have long complained that the track does nothing for local businesses. The sprinkling of racing fans who show up during the short spring meet are virtually invisible outside Pimlico’s gates. Even on Preakness weekend, when tens of thousands of racing fans stream into the track, betting millions of dollars, the action does not spill over appreciably into the neighborhood.
“Here’s a fun fact that is a challenge for me sometimes to swallow …” said Yolanda E. Jiggetts, chief executive officer of Park Heights Renaissance, a community development organization. “These businesses in Park Heights actually lose money historically during the Preakness.”
Elizabeth Wiseman, board co-chair of the Pimlico Community Redevelopment Compact, explained that during Preakness it is impossible to park on the street. Plus, she said, few Preakness goers even think to spend time or money in the neighborhood. “There is not the type of synergy we’d like to see in the future where people are walking fluidly from the track to the stores and restaurants,” she said.
Community leaders say they aren’t solely relying on the Pimlico project to uplift the neighborhood. A rebuilt Pimlico could be the catalyst Park Heights needs to boost its image and speed ongoing improvements, but in recent years, Jiggetts’ organization also has guided the building of several new housing developments and deployed a team of workers that cuts overgrown lawns, cleans alleys and annually removes more than a hundred tons of trash dumped in the neighborhood.
The group has also assembled a list of initiatives it hopes to complete over the next five years, including giving home-preservation grants to nearly 2,000 residents, launching new job training programs and developing additional new housing.
In all, the wish list of upgrades carries a price tag of more than $100 million, and community leaders believe a rebuilt Pimlico can help generate the momentum — and money — needed to fulfill it.
“It is something much larger than just horse racing,” said Desiree Eades, a real estate and development consultant for Park Heights Renaissance. “That’s why development [of the track] is so important.”
After years of feeling locked out of the business of the race track, many say they are encouraged that the neighborhood’s perspective is finally being considered alongside the needs of horse racing.
“For people in a community that most of the time feels like they’re not heard, they were heard,” said Bishop Troy Randall, founder of @The House, a social service program. “And not only heard, they were respected.”
Still, there is cause for skepticism. Given the declining popularity of horse racing, the fear is that Pimlico’s facelift might be coming too late to help Park Heights.
May 11, a Saturday, was the third day of Pimlico’s spring meet, aided by pleasant weather with the sun peeking through the clouds. Yet hardly anybody was at the track. All but a handful of the long lines of betting windows were closed. The couple hundred horse players in the place were able to spread out at banquet tables and benches facing simulcast screens and red picnic tables lined up near the rail next to the track’s home stretch.
“When we were pulling up to the parking lot, it was a little bleak to see so many empty parking spaces,” said Atlas Pyke, who was at the track with his mother, Joyce Lombardi. “We basically drove right up to the rail.” Both Pyke and Lombardi said they hoped a rebuilt track would draw more people to Pimlico. But the reality may be that horse racing is simply not popular anymore, they said.
“I’m not sure that it’s a sport that everyone can relate to or even condone,” said Lombardi, who grew up riding thoroughbreds in rural Maryland. “It’s not great for horses.”
Maryland’s equine industry generates $2 billion annually in economic impact, state officials say, with $600 million of it tied to horse racing. The industry is widely regarded as a cultural pillar of Maryland, which Cross, of the racetrack authority, said has more horses per capita than any other state in the country. Overall, the equine business is responsible for a quarter of Maryland’s greenspace, he added.
“There’s a disproportionate state impact in the continuation of the business,” Cross said. “But in order to have that economic impact be sustainable and continue, you need a big investment of capital. And the returns on the capital just aren’t enough for a private, for-profit operator to put in $400 million to $500 million, as we’re about to do.”
Under terms of the deal, the Preakness will stay at Pimlico this year and next, then move 21 miles southwest to Laurel while the facility is rebuilt. The hope is to return the event to Pimlico by 2027. After that, Laurel — located on more than 200 acres of prime land in the prosperous suburbs between Baltimore and Washington. D.C. — is slated to close.
Maryland officials expressed confidence they will be able to do what the Stronach Group could not in recent years: make money with Pimlico. “We think it will be more than profitable,” Cross said.
A financially healthy Pimlico that shares its bounty with the surrounding neighborhood is something local leaders are counting on.
Long before running the local development board, Jiggetts grew up in Park Heights. As a little girl, she would accompany her grandmother to the track so frequently that she got to know many of the people who worked there. Some of them would keep an eye on her while her grandmother placed bets. The track taught Jiggetts to love horses, but it also taught her the dangers of gambling. She says her grandmother fell into debt because of losses at the track.
“You know, that was her favorite pastime but also her addiction,” Jiggetts said. Now, she hopes the track can give something back. She wants to see people coming to Pimlico visiting local coffee shops, or dining at local restaurants after the races.
Banking on horse racing to help struggling Park Heights might be a long shot, but for many people from the neighborhood it looks like their best bet.
“You can see that stuff’s starting to happen,” Scott said. “People want to come back. Investment is happening. Reopening the rec center. Renovating the pool for the first time since it was built. Doing all of those things. Pimlico will just help us to unlock that.”
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Kristen Shilton, ESPN NHL reporter
The NHL offseason was too long for most players, but many filled the void with travel, weddings and a few rounds of golf.
We learned that and more catching up with league stars at the NHL Player Media Tour near Las Vegas last week. It’s one event a year where every topic is on the table, from summer plans to equipment quirks to road cities they circle on the calendar each year. (Hint: dinner reservations play a massive role.)
Let’s dive into some of the fun before the real games begin in October.
What was your summer highlight?
Macklin Celebrini, San Jose Sharks: I went to my first football game. I had never been to one and I went to the University of Michigan at the Big House to see them play …. That was pretty cool.
Vincent Trocheck, New York Rangers: I didn’t do s— this summer. It was nice to just be home.
John Carlson, Washington Capitals: I went and played golf in Ireland. It was a boys’ trip; my brother came. We played a bunch of great courses.
Bo Horvat, New York Islanders: We did a couple weddings over in Italy, which was where my wife and I went on our honeymoon. But I hadn’t been back in like five years, so it’s good to be there again. We went to Puglia and Venice and Rome.
Brandon Carlo, Boston Bruins: We went to [David Pastrnak‘s] wedding in Croatia. That was really cool. I’ve never been to Croatia, so I loved it there. It was beautiful. Food was fantastic. And then the water there? I loved it. It was really salty, so it kind of held you up. I’m not used to being able to, like, float in water very often, so I was in the water most of the day.
Jaccob Slavin, Carolina Hurricanes: We had a vacation to Mexico with my whole family. So, we had 20 people, and seven of them were under the age of 5. My mom and dad were pumped, because they had all their grandkids together. It was really fun.
Filip Forsberg, Nashville Predators: We had a baby in May, so it’s just been a lot of daddy time. It’s just been great. Somebody told me having a kid lets you reexperience everything through their eyes. And it’s been cool, because it’s him, like, figuring out his fingers, and how they work. The simplest things, and it’s the best.
Nick Suzuki, Montreal Canadiens: We were in Europe for three weeks. Went to three weddings, actually: two in Italy and then one in Ireland. Saw my teammate Josh Anderson get married in Puglia. It was very cool.
Robert Thomas, St. Louis Blues: I went on a golf trip to the south of Ireland. I was able to bring my dad and a couple other buddies and their dads, so it was great.
Clayton Keller, Utah Hockey Club: I got to go home for a week [to Missouri] and see my grandma.
Quinton Byfield, Los Angeles Kings: I went to Nashville for one of my old teammate’s bachelor party. Played some golf, went to a Zach Bryan concert. It was great.
Roope Hintz, Dallas Stars: Best thing is I got married. For my [black and white] suit, I just wanted to do something different. Somehow, I pulled that off. [My wife] liked it. The deal was I got to choose my own suit, but she liked it. And most of the guys liked it too, so that was good.
Owen Tippett, Philadelphia Flyers: I had five weddings and two bachelor parties. The highlight was being the officiant at my sister’s wedding. Right from the start we knew it was going to be super quick and easy and obviously I’m not a fan of public speaking, but when she asked me, I couldn’t really say no.
Wyatt Johnston, Dallas Stars: Went out to Inverness, Cape Breton, in Nova Scotia, for a golf trip with some friends. That was my little vacation, and it was awesome; we had a ton of fun.
What’s the best road city to visit?
Celebrini: Probably going back to Boston. That’s where all my [old] teammates are and my brother is. So either Boston or Vancouver, my hometown.
Rasmus Dahlin, Buffalo Sabres: Florida. Fort Lauderdale, Tampa; doesn’t matter. Just like being down there.
Carlson: Montreal. Great food. Feels a little bit different than the other cities, and the arena, with the history and the team, it’s a pretty special place to play.
Victor Hedman, Tampa Bay Lightning: Montreal. So many good memories there, and it always feels like I play good games there. Great food, too. Kind of reminds you of Europe a little bit, the way it’s laid out. And that’s where hockey was born. So Montreal is pretty cool.
Horvat: We’re in one — Vegas is always great. When I was playing on the West Coast [for Vancouver] I always loved going to New York, but now that feels like home. So I’d go with Vegas or Nashville.
Carlo: My favorites are probably when we get to go to the West Coast and do like L.A. and Anaheim. Especially when you’re in the middle of the winter, to go get some sunshine and hang out by the beach for a day, that’s nice.
Jack Hughes, New Jersey Devils: I’ll go with Chicago. I really enjoy it. Haven’t really played against Connor Bedard yet, though. I missed our game there this year [with an injury] and he broke his jaw [in the first period] against us, so that’s too bad.
Slavin: New York. They’ve got a lot of good food there. Favorite arenas to play in though are Vegas or Dallas.
Forsberg: Vegas. The Strip is cool. I’ve had some good games out here. And my wife has some family in the area too.
Shane Pinto, Ottawa Senators: I like Tampa. It’s sneaky nice there.
Suzuki: Nashville. I love country music and you can hang out there on the patios [listening].
Thomas: I’d say New York. I love food, I love trying new restaurants, and they’ve got the best restaurants in the world.
Keller: New York. I just like playing at MSG, and seeing all the teams out there, staying in the city. I’ve got some college buddies who live in town, some family, friends, things like that. So it’s always fun to go now.
Byfield: I’ve never had a bad time in New York. There’s a ton of good restaurants, good people and the building is awesome to play in. It’s so iconic, and the fans are great there too.
Radko Gudas, Anaheim Ducks: Vegas and Montreal. There’s always something to explore. Always something new. There are the places that I always go to, like Schwartz’s Deli for smoked meat in Montreal.
Connor Bedard, Chicago Blackhawks: Boston. With the history and everything, you walk around and it feels like you’re always seeing something cool.
Tippett: Dallas. The weather, the food; there’s always stuff to do there. You can golf if there’s a day off.
Johnston: Toronto, just because it’s home. Or Fort Lauderdale. You’re at the beach for a day. It’s awesome. It’s a nice little break from hockey.
What’s your favorite cheat meal?
Celebrini: My mom’s lasagna. She makes a really good lasagna.
Dahlin: Ice cream. Anything chocolate, cookie [flavor] or vanilla.
Horvat: Burger and fries, every time.
Slavin: Oh, a lot of them. I’m a huge sweets guy, so I love desserts like cookies and milk, molten lava cakes. But then for the meal itself, I could go for a good Five Guys burger.
Pinto: Chick-fil-A, easily. A spicy chicken sandwich, with a 12-count nuggets. And maybe a milkshake, depending if I skated that day.
Tippett: Cheesesteak, always.
Johnston: Classic cheeseburger and fries. Because you can’t go wrong with that.
Do you have any unique equipment quirks?
Celebrini: I don’t tape the toe or the full heel of my stick, which a lot of guys don’t really like. But I don’t know, it’s kind of worked for me. I’ve done it for a while now. I don’t know why I started doing it that way, but it’s been good.
Dahlin: I keep it very simple. Just tape my stick with a spiral up top and use black tape.
Slavin: I’m very habitual just in how I get dressed. I feel like I always put on my right side [gear] before my left side. So right shin pad before left shin pad, right skate before left skate. But if I were to do it the other way, I wouldn’t feel like I was going to play a bad game.
Forsberg: I don’t have anything too quirky. But as far as advancements [I’d like to see], it’d be cool to have a stick where you could switch curves, and be a lefty or a righty.
Keller: Well, I did have a thing with my elbow pads. I just recently stopped using those, but I had been using the same ones since I was 14 years old. Finally got a new pair of those.
How excited are you about the 4 Nations Face-Off?
Dahlin: It’s going to be fun. The team hasn’t been set, obviously, but if I make it, it’s for sure very up there for my bucket list. To be able to play with the best against the best, it’s something special.
Carlson: It’s great for hockey. Obviously, I want to and would love to play in it; representing your country is cool. It’s a different animal than what we’re used to. And it’s fun to play against some of your teammates, play with some of your opponents. It’ll be awesome.
Hedman: It’s going to be an unreal experience. Best-on-best hockey has been a long time coming [again]. It’s a little bit of a different format with only four teams, but nonetheless, every time you put on that three-crown jersey [for Sweden], you’re wearing it with pride. There’s going to be some good games and good hockey for sure.
Hughes: It’s definitely something you want to be a part of, for sure, with the [2026] Olympics coming up too. It’s a great honor to put the USA jersey back on.
Bedard: It’s great for the game of hockey. Great for everyone to see the best players in each [of those] countries going against each other. I think people are going to love watching it.
Keller: I think it’s super exciting. Anytime you can have that chance to represent your country, it’s the best feeling in the world. And hopefully I’m a part of that team. I’m looking forward to starting this season and seeing what happens.
Byfield: It’ll be super special. I played for Team Canada previously and have talked about that jersey’s honor. I have so many good memories of just watching Team Canada play in the Olympics. Seeing Sid [Crosby] score that famous goal [at the 2010 Games], that’s one of my favorite memories. So tournaments [like this] are always special.
Hintz: It’s going to be pretty special. I want to make the team to be there and represent our country well.
Who is the NHL’s most underrated player?
Dahlin: I feel like [Gustav] Forsling doesn’t get enough recognition.
Carlson: I want to say [Aleksander] Barkov. He still feels underrated somehow.
Horvat: Have to go with Brock Nelson. He’s a sneaky 30-plus goal scorer every single year and does a lot of really good stuff people don’t talk about.
Slavin: Forsling. I think he’s starting to get more attention after his playoffs that he had last year. There’s a lot more recognition, and he deserves it.
Byfield: Robert Thomas. He’s an exceptional player. The way that he can turn on a dime, find players. He’s one of the best passers I’ve ever seen. The things he can do on the ice are just pretty impressive.
Forsberg: Ryan O’Reilly. I knew how good he was, but seeing it every day [as a teammate], I think he’s still underrated. Like he has a Conn Smythe Trophy and everything, but I think all the stuff that he does, you need to see in person to really, really appreciate it.
Thomas: I’d say Pavel Buchnevich. He really is one of [St. Louis’] best players; he can change games for us, and even though his English is a little broken, he’s one of the funnier guys you’ll find.
Gudas: Jonathan Drouin, for sure.
What was your favorite memory of the Summer Olympics?
Dahlin: I don’t know what you call it in English, but you put a big stick in the ground and jump over it? [Pole vault?] Yes, pole vault. Because [Swedish vaulter] Mondo Duplantis is the best one and wins every year so it’s cool to watch him do his thing.
Hedman: I didn’t watch a whole lot, to be honest. I don’t watch TV in the summertime. But I did watch Mondo Duplantis and that was just goosebumps.
Horvat: Oh yeah, I watched a couple things. The viral breakdancer [Rachael Gunn] definitely stood out. But other than that, I just love watching the sprinting, the track guys and stuff like that. I think it’s really cool what they can do.
Slavin: I thought the speed climbing was crazy. That was insane. I was sitting there watching with my wife, and she was like, ‘Is that rope pulling them up the wall?’ Because it kind of looks like it. Just so crazy and fun to see. And the track and field; I find the sprints fun to watch.
Keller: I’m a basketball guy, so I liked seeing all those [Team USA] superstars and legends play together and win the gold medal. That was pretty special for me to watch.
Byfield: Yeah, I tried to watch as much I could. Always like to see the Canadians win. Saw the Canadian swimmers all being successful, a lot of gold medals for us [all around]. It was great to watch.
Leon Draisaitl, Edmonton Oilers: I did go [to Paris]. My sister’s husband played in the gold medal game for field hockey so I went to that. It was great match. [Germany] unfortunately lost [to the Netherlands], but still a silver medal for him, which is pretty cool.
What are your thoughts on Utah?
Hedman: I’m just looking for a good visitors’ locker room. That’s the bottom line. But no, that’s going to be cool, I’ve never been to Salt Lake. It looks beautiful in pictures. I’ve been talking to [ex-teammate] Mikhail Sergachev and he’s super excited being out there so I’m happy for him too.
Pinto: I’m actually pretty excited for it. Their jerseys are obviously really cool. And I think it’ll be better than the whole Arizona situation was last year.
Thomas: Really exciting. Just looking at how much fun it was to go play in Vegas and Seattle, it’ll be really nice to have another hungry hockey town that’s ready to welcome the NHL. It’ll be a lot of fun.
Why are hockey players drawn to golf?
Thomas: You’re away from your friends and family a lot during the season, so it’s a good way to connect with them. I think the hand-eye coordination is pretty similar, so a lot of us are pretty solid at golf. It’s just a good way to relax. And it’s always a hard sport that you can’t seem to always get good at. So I think we like the challenge.
Byfield: I played so much golf this summer, and it’s just because I work out so early in the morning. It’s like you’re doing that at 6 a.m. and then I’m done everything by 10. It’s almost a time consumer at that point. But it’s also just so fun, because it’s so hard. You can be great one day, and the next day, you’ve just lost it. So it’s very challenging and I like the challenge.
Draisaitl: I think there are some similarities between the sports. And then the contrast of the go, go, go type of way that we have in our everyday work when it comes to our sport, with the more relaxed way golf can be. It evens out a little bit. I think guys like that aspect.
Brock Faber, Minnesota Wild: In the offseason a lot of training is done semi-early in the day, at least Monday through Friday, so you’re done at a reasonable time. You have all day to do something, and golf or pickleball or tennis — those activities attract a lot of hockey players [to fill that time].
Johnston: It’s somewhat similar to hockey in terms of you’re holding a stick, trying to hit a puck or a ball. And it just lines up, seasons-wise. You’re done [with] hockey by the spring, and that’s the start of the golf season, and then you’re going back to hockey in the fall when golf is ending around the colder climates. And I think it’s just great to get outside. I think everyone enjoys that part of it and guys love being able to do it with their friends, too.
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Max Olson, ESPN Staff Writer
Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers‘ oblique strain is not as serious as initially feared and his status for returning to play is considered week-to-week, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel on Sunday.
Ewers is likely to miss No. 1 Texas’ game against UL Monroe on Saturday (8 p.m. ET, ESPN+), which would pave the way for redshirt freshman Arch Manning to make his first career start for the Longhorns.
There’s no set timetable for his return from his abdominal injury, but sources said there’s optimism after consulting with doctors. Orangebloods first reported that Ewers’ status is week-to-week.
Ewers suffered the noncontact injury in the second quarter of Texas’ 56-7 win over UTSA on Saturday night and did not return to the game. Manning replaced him and produced 223 passing yards, 53 rushing yards and five total touchdowns over nine drives.
Texas opens SEC play at home against Mississippi State on Sept. 28 and then has an idle week before meeting No. 15 Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry in Dallas on Oct. 12 and No. 2 Georgia on Oct. 19.
The Longhorns moved ahead of Georgia to No. 1 in the AP poll on Sunday following the Bulldogs’ close 13-12 win at Kentucky. This is the first time Texas has been ranked No. 1 in the poll since 2008.
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