Steve Sarkisian had a mixed-bag season in 2024 at Austin. But 2025 looks like a different ball game, as Arch Manning is ready to take the reins as the starting QB, replacing Quinn Ewers. Additionally, alongside having Manning on the offensive steering, the Longhorns have lost plenty of position players, with the likes of Kelvin Banks Jr., Isaiah Bond, Jahdae Barron, Cameron Williams, and Matthew Golden all declaring for the draft. While there has been boiling pressure to deal with the voids and dodge the curse of a good enough’ season by making it the best, Sarkisian keeps that concern momentarily aside to call for his NFL gems. But quite surprisingly, he didn’t have his favorite boy, Quinn Ewers, on the list.We are just a few months away from the draft, so it’s high time for players to take part in the NFL combine and impress the scouts, enhancing their stock and gaining an edge over the competitors. But not every player can get an invitation to the elite NFL showdown. So, Steve Sarkisian has all right to boast the fact that 14 of his boys are heading to Indianapolis at the end of this month. Quinn Ewers has been one prime among these 14 premium players but couldn’t get a shout-out from coach Sarkisian. It’s especially unforeseen, as the Texas head coach has never missed a chance to stick by Ewers through thick and thin when he was under the center at Austin.But ahead of the NFL combine, Sarkisian dropped a couple of words for almost everyone but Ewers. ”I think the speed always jumps out for everybody,” Sarkisian said when he asked about who was going to turn heads. “I know Jaydon Blue and Isaiah Bond are going to run great times. They’re going to really roll. I think Matt Golden is going to surprise people with his versatility at receiver. I think Kelvin Banks is good. He moves to the offensive line position. Jahdae’s versatility in the secondary.”Which @TexasFootball invitees does @CoachSark think will trend at the #NFLCombine? @heykayadams pic.twitter.com/Wbu5HmFf6a— Up & Adams (@UpAndAdamsShow) February 27, 2025The number of combine invitees this year certainly adds a feather in the cap for Sarkisian’s storied Texas stint, but the most notable reason to be convinced about a holistic Texas team under Sark is the balanced representation of all positions by the scouts. ”Quarterback, running back, two receivers, tight end, O-linemen, D-linemen, EDGE, DBs. I’m excited for all these guys,” the fourth-year head coach said with sparkling pride in his eyes in the February 27th episode of the Up & Adams podcast.Sark was asked about Andrew, the do-it-all Texas safety who is pretty confident that Texas has made him NFL-ready. ”I think Andrew Mukuba is going to surprise a lot of people just because he’s such a heady player. He’s going to interview great,” said the head coach. ”Alfred Collins, when they see how big he is and how he moves, he’s another guy. All these other guys I’m not talking about, I’m going to get a text as soon as we’re done.” Sarkisian praised another name under the elite belt.So, what is the reason behind the uncanny treatment of Ewers? Well, we might not pinpoint the exact reason right now, but the persisting injury concern seems to be a culprit. But guess what? Ewers doesn’t hold back to clear the air of confusion around his health, regardless.Quinn Ewers tries to flip his injury narrative with a curative NFL planEwers fell victim to a grave injury in mid-season. Although he returned later in the season, it significantly derailed his momentum. Now, as new information emerges in the lore, the status ahead of the NFL combine seems more concerning. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, on February 25, suggested that Ewers played 12 games with a torn oblique, not just a “strain,” as we deemed it during the season.“Quinn Ewers played most of last season with a torn oblique muscle, not a strain as was once thought,” tweeted Josh Newman of LoneStarLive.com, adding, “That’s pretty ridiculous given the numbers he posted in 24 games.” Well, ridiculous in both a good and bad sense. For the good parts, the 3,472 yards, 31 TDs, and 12 picks look even more glorified and solid now; at the same time, it sparked doubts about Ewers’s health to throw at the combine.However, if you refer to Ewers’s months-old damage control statement, you will be able to take a chill pill for now. ”Nobody’s 100%,” he’d said back in November 2024, shrugging off the brickbats. Now, after being declared for the combine, Ewers reportedly plans to put on a show during the throwing portion of the NFL Combine. We will see how Quinn will make his mark in the pro with his faltering stock and a strategic damage control move.The post Steve Sarkisian Makes Huge Quinn Ewers Blunder as Texas QB Scrambles for Damage Control to Save NFL Career appeared first on EssentiallySports.