On Monday, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers didn’t want to sugarcoat it.
“I don’t think I played as well as I needed to play for the standard,” Ewers told reporters at the Texas football team’s weekly media availability.
Ewers was speaking just two days after he helped lead Texas to a 34-3 win over Oklahoma in Dallas. The annual Red River Rivalry game was Ewers’ first appearance since he strained his oblique against UTSA on Sept. 14. The injury sidelined him for the Longhorns‘ wins over Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State.
Against Oklahoma, Ewers threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to tight end Gunnar Helm and he added a 1-yard rushing touchdown. But the first pass he threw in 28 days was intercepted and he misfired on a few other attempts. He finished with 199 yards on 20-of-29 passing.
Seated alongside Texas coach Steve Sarkisian and three teammates at a postgame press conference on Saturday, Ewers stated that he needed to play better. The third-year starter dismissed the idea of rust contributing to his on-field issues since he had practiced the previous two weeks.
A few days later, Ewers participated in his first individual session with the local media in weeks. Several of the questions that he answered were about his injury and subsequent return against the Sooners.
Were there any lingering effects of the oblique injury?
“It was a little different, but I mean nothing drastic to where it was throwing me off.”
What did he not like about his performance?
“I think that just my speed with my feet and my confidence in my throws throughout practice should have been better, which would have carried over to the game. I think I just should have practiced a little bit better.”
What does it say about Texas that it beat Oklahoma by 31 points while he wasn’t at his best?
“I think it just goes to show what kind of team that we have, and there’s just a multitude of ways that we can win football games. It kind of takes the pressure off the offense’s back. When our defense is playing like it is right now, it makes our job a whole lot easier.”
What was it like being back on the field?
“It’s the best. It’s hard being out for a couple weeks. You almost feel guilty, just not being out there with the guys, knowing all the work that we put in together. It’s a great feeling to be out there with the guys during live games.”
Now 20-6 as a starter, Ewers has thrown for 890 yards and nine touchdowns this season. A Heisman Trophy contender before his injury, Ewers has completed 72.2% of his 108 passes.
He’ll next lead No. 1 Texas (6-0, 2-0) into a showdown against No. 4 Georgia (5-1, 2-1) at Royal-Memorial Stadium on Saturday night. In two of its last three games, Georgia has allowed a 300-yard passer.
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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas football quarterback Quinn Ewers evaluates Oklahoma performance
