AUSTIN, Texas — Texas starting quarterback Arch Manning was “making good progress” in practice, coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday, but his status to return from a concussion in time to play for the 20th-ranked Longhorns when they host No. 9 Vanderbilt on Saturday remains uncertain.
Manning has been in concussion protocol since being injured at the beginning of overtime in last weekend’s 45-38 win over Mississippi State, when the Longhorns improved to 6-2 overall and 3-1 in Southeastern Conference play. Backup quarterback Matthew Caldwell came on to throw the winning touchdown as Texas rallied from 17 points down in the fourth quarter.
Manning has spent the week in concussion protocol and he returned to practice Wednesday. He was listed as questionable on the team’s Wednesday night injury report to the SEC, and his status remained the same on Thursday’s report.
“I don’t have anything beyond for Arch just because we have to follow the protocol of the days and the reps, but he’s making good progress,” Sarkisian said earlier Thursday.
If Manning can’t play, Caldwell will start against the Commodores (7-1, 3-1). He is a graduate transfer from Troy.
“We haven’t changed anything that we’ve done,” Sarkisian said. “The game plan is the game plan. All of his teammates have confidence in Matt if it’s his time to go.”
Manning has passed for 1,795 yards and 15 touchdowns. A preseason favorite for the Heisman Trophy, the redshirt sophomore in his first year as the full-time starter for the Longhorns struggled for much of the early season but played his best game against Mississippi State as he passed for 346 yards and three touchdowns. He passed for 169 yards in the fourth quarter.