Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers will not play Saturday against Mississippi State as the Longhorns staff decided to sit him out so he can be fully healthy for the Oct. 12 game against Oklahoma.

According to sources, the team wanted Ewers to use Texas’ week off after the Mississippi State game to get healthy. Ewers has been watched week-to-week since injuring his oblique against UTSA on September 14.

Ewers finished the week at almost 70% as he practiced Tuesday, was limited on Wednesday, and ended up limited in practice on Thursday so he could fully heal. According to sources, the Texas coaching staff wanted to give Ewers the extra rest to ensure he returns at full strength.

The decision means Texas will again start backup quarterback Arch Manning, who will make his first career start in an SEC game. Manning made his first start against Louisiana Monroe and completed 15 of 29 passes for 258 yards. He had two touchdown passes and two interceptions.

Ewers’ oblique injury came after he turned in one of Michigan’s best performances of the season in Week 2, throwing for 246 yards and three touchdowns in a blowout win at Texas in Ann Arbor.

Mississippi State comes into the game on a three-game losing streak, including back-to-back home losses to Toledo and Florida. The Bulldogs tend to finish near the bottom of the SEC because they have one of the worst defenses in the country. They are No. 111 nationally in total defense and No. 107 in scoring defense.

Mississippi State will also be without its starting quarterback, as starter Blake Shapen is out for the year after suffering a shoulder injury against Florida. Michael Van Buren, a true freshman, will make his first career start for the Bulldogs.