Texas QB Arch Manning ‘making good progress’ ahead of Vanderbilt game
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Arch Manning is trending in the right direction, but Texas still doesn’t know if he’ll play on Saturday when the 20th-ranked Longhorns host No. 9 Vanderbilt.
When he met with reporters on Thursday, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said Manning is making “good progress” but is still in concussion protocol. Manning was listed as questionable on the team’s first official availability 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, per ESPN.
Manning returned to practice on Wednesday. But he has been in concussion protocol since leaving the Longhorns’ win over Mississippi State last Saturday.
If Manning is unavailable, Texas will turn to backup Matthew Caldwell.
Caldwell threw the game-winning touchdown pass in overtime to beat MSU. The senior from Auburn has 11 pass attempts for the Longhorns this season after transferring in 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 started each of Texas’s first 8 games this season. He has 1,795 yards through the air and is coming off a career-best 346-yard performance against the Bulldogs.
The Longhorns (6-2, 3-1 SEC) are looking to keep pace in the SEC title race. Vanderbilt (7-1, 3-1) is looking to secure a crucial win in its bid to make the College Football Playoff. Kickoff is set for noon ET on ABC.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
