Longhorns’ QB Ewers (ankle) feeling ‘a lot better’

Published

5 months ago

December 30, 2024

admin

Max Olson, ESPN Staff WriterDec 30, 2024, 02:59 PM ET
Close
- Covers the Big 12
- Joined ESPN in 2012
- Graduate of the University of Nebraska

ATLANTA – After a month of working to recover from a high-ankle sprain, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers said Monday he’s feeling “a lot better” as the No. 5 Longhorns approach their College Football Playoff quarterfinal showdown with No. 4 Arizona State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

Ewers suffered the injury during a 31-14 win over Kentucky on Nov. 23 and has continued to play through it while wearing a brace on his right ankle.

In the week leading up to Texas’ regular season finale at rival Texas A&M, with an SEC championship game bid on the line, Ewers said he felt like he was getting treatment “all day, every day” on his ankle to get him ready to play.

“Not having that time off to completely let it heal was definitely a struggle,” Ewers said at Peach Bowl media day. “I’m feeling a whole lot better than I did back then.”

Since the injury, Ewers has thrown for 778 yards on 62% passing with three passing touchdowns and four interceptions. He led the Longhorns to a 17-7 win in College Station, then threw for a season-high 358 yards in Texas’ overtime loss to Georgia in the SEC title game.

Ewers has benefitted from a two-week break between the SEC title game and Texas’ first-round home game against Clemson, as well as the 10-day period to prepare for the Peach Bowl quarterfinal.

“I think he’s as healthy as he’s been in a long time, for sure,” Texas co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach AJ Milwee said at Peach Bowl media day. “That’s one thing I give Quinn a lot of credit for: He’s relentless in his recovery and trying to get his body in the best situation that it can be in. I’ll give him a ton of credit that he handles his body like a pro.”

Ewers is also managing the lingering effects of an oblique injury that forced him to miss two games in September.

“It’s almost like just built-up scar tissue in there that I just have to deal with it,” he said. “There’s nothing I can really do.”

Despite those setbacks, Ewers still earned second-team All-SEC honors in his first season in the conference and has thrown for 2,867 yards with 27 total touchdowns and 10 interceptions in his junior season.

Texas’ coaching staff responded to Ewers’ ankle injury by installing a run package for backup quarterback Arch Manning. The former five-star recruit has made cameos in each of the Longhorns’ last three games and has recorded carries on seven of his nine snaps.

“Anytime you can have a chance to help your team win, you’re excited,” Manning said. “That’s the role I’m in right now, and I’m gonna do it the best I can.”

Manning flashed his ability as a run threat early in the season with a 67-yard rushing touchdown against UTSA. On his first carry against Texas A&M, he turned a fourth-and-2 run into a 15-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead.

“That was a big-time play in that game,” Milwee said. “He broke a tackle and kept his balance and got in the end zone. He brings that dynamic.”

Texas offensive coordinator Kyle Flood said he hasn’t incorporated a Wildcat-style run package into an offense in a significant way since his days with Mohamed Sanu at Rutgers from 2009-2011. Unlike a true Wildcat package, though, Flood noted they have the whole playbook available when Manning steps in.

“It’s absolutely been fun,” Flood said. “Arch has got kind of a unique skill set and he’s a really good athlete. He’s a strong-bodied guy. There’s no question that stuff’s been fun to do.”

It’s an offensive wrinkle that Texas will continue to use in opportune times as it chases its first national championship since 2005. Flood said the two QBs have a great relationship and a shared understanding from playing under an intense spotlight during their careers.

“I think Sark does a great job at defining the roles,” Flood said. “I know the outside world thinks it’s gray sometimes, but it’s not. This is Quinn Ewers’ team. This is Quinn’s team. Everybody knows that. There’s no lack of clarity in our building in terms of whose team it is.”

Sports

Panthers handle Leafs, seal 3rd ECF trip in row

Published

11 hours ago

May 19, 2025

admin

Panthers handle Leafs, seal 3rd ECF trip in row

ESPN News Services

May 18, 2025, 10:22 PM ET

TORONTO — A three-goal second period broke open a tight game, quieted a raucous crowd at Scotiabank Arena, and powered the Florida Panthers past the Toronto Maple Leafs 6-1 in Game 7 of this Eastern Conference semifinal series on Sunday night.

Though it wasn’t the typical marquee names you see on the Florida scoresheet, Seth Jones, Anton Lundell and Jonah Gadjovich combined for those tallies, giving the Stanley Cup-champion Panthers a 3-0 lead headed into the third period. It was plenty of room for Florida to shut the door in the third period and seal a berth in the Eastern Conference finals for the third consecutive season. Florida will take on the Carolina Hurricanes in Round 3 beginning Tuesday.

The Maple Leafs, 2-0 winners in Game 6 Friday night in Sunrise, Florida, could not find enough time and space to operate in the Panthers’ zone. With 10 minutes left in regulation, Toronto had just 14 shots on net, with its season on the line, as boos rained down from the capacity crowd.

Eetu Luostarinen and Sam Reinhart chipped in with third-period goals for Florida, giving the champions a 5-1 lead after Toronto’s Max Domi scored at 2:07 of the final frame to briefly give the home team hope. Florida’s Brad Marchand added an empty-net goal to conclude the scoring.

“We’re excited about the opportunity,” Marchand said during the game broadcast on SportsNet. “We’re having fun, enjoying the moment, that’s all you can do. You don’t get a second chance at these opportunities. You just have to embrace and enjoy it.”

Goaltender Joseph Woll, who authored the shutout in Sunrise on Friday, struggled at home, looking out of position on several Florida goals. Anthony Stolarz, Toronto’s regular starter who had been sidelined since Game 1 with an undisclosed injury, was active and on the bench as Toronto’s backup for Game 7, but he was not called upon.

Florida goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was much sharper on the other end of the ice, allowing only Domi’s goal off a wrist shot on a clean entry into the zone. Bobrovsky, who has started every postseason game for the Panthers this season, was playing in his first Game 7 since he led the Panthers to the Stanley Cup last June with a victory over the Edmonton Oilers in the series’ last game.

Jones, in his first season with Florida and seeking his first shot at the Stanley Cup, opened the scoring with his third goal of the postseason.

“I’m just happy with the situation I’m in,” Jones said on TNT’s postgame show. “Hopefully, my game can grow, and I’m just trying to bring what I can to the table with this team. I’m playing with a lot of great players, and these guys know what it takes to win.”

The game was delayed in the second period, just before Florida’s goal-scoring spree, after referee Chris Rooney, widely considered to be one of the top officials in the NHL, was bloodied and had to leave. The longtime referee was hit by an inadvertent stick to the face.

The play happened 13 seconds into the second period, when Florida’s Niko Mikkola was jousting for the puck and his stick went into Rooney’s face. Rooney skated off with some assistance and with a towel covering much of his face as he was brought to the locker room area for further evaluation and treatment.

The NHL has stand-by officials at playoff games, and Garrett Rank took over as one of the two referees following Rooney’s injury, joining a crew that also included referee Jean Hebert and linespersons Devin Berg and Jonny Murray.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Sports

Referee Rooney leaves Game 7 after stick to face

Published

11 hours ago

May 19, 2025

admin

Referee Rooney leaves Game 7 after stick to face

Associated Press

May 18, 2025, 09:12 PM ET

TORONTO — Referee Chris Rooney, widely considered to be one of the top officials in the NHL, was bloodied and had to leave Game 7 of the Florida Panthers–Toronto Maple Leafs playoff matchup Sunday night after taking an inadvertent stick above one of his eyes.

The play happened 13 seconds into the second period of the Panthers’ 6-1 win when Florida’s Niko Mikkola was jousting for the puck and his stick hit Rooney’s face.

The game was stopped for several minutes and a stretcher was brought onto the ice, but Rooney skated off with some assistance and with a towel covering much of his face as he was brought to the locker room area for further evaluation and treatment.

Rooney got stitches and was ruled out for the remainder of the game.

The NHL has standby officials at playoff games, and Garrett Rank took over as one of the two referees following Rooney’s injury, joining a crew that also included referee Jean Hebert and linesmen Devin Berg and Jonny Murray.