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AUSTIN – As if Texas didn’t have enough drama surrounding the program following a 13-10 overtime loss to Oklahoma State over the weekend, Tom Herman is back in the position of being unsure who his starting quarterback will be when the Longhorns face Baylor on Saturday.

The difference now compared to other times this fall is the decision isn’t entirely in Herman’s hands.

Shane Buechele is likely going to be back in the saddle when Texas (3-4, 2-2 in the Big 12) travels to Waco to take on Baylor (0-7, 0-4) with Sam Ehlinger in concussion protocol.

While Herman couldn’t confirm during his Monday press conference what specific play resulted in Ehlinger, who was held out of practice on Sunday, needing to be evaluated for a head injury, he said Ehlinger’s symptoms didn’t pop up on Saturday until well after the game was over following the end of the quarterback’s postgame media obligations.

“He was complaining a little bit, so they evaluated him at that point, sent him home and nothing was concrete at that point Saturday night,” Herman said. “Gave it 24 hours, he came back yesterday and showed some symptoms.”

Herman came under fire from, among others, one of the top concussion and CTE research advocates in the country, for how the Longhorns handled Ehlinger following an injury that forced him to leave the Oklahoma game on Oct. 14. Even though he wasn’t asked directly about what he did or didn’t know, Herman offered an unsolicited explanation of the process that led to Ehlinger reentering the Red River Showdown and being available to start the Oklahoma State contest.

“By now, we all know the coach’s role in that is very very limited if any,” Herman said. “My understanding is he was cleared, symptom-free the entire week after the Oklahoma game. Obviously, he was cleared enough to go back in the game. At some point during the game against Oklahoma State, something happened.”

Of the 242 plays from scrimmage the Longhorns have officially recorded over the last three games, Ehlinger was directly involved in 183 of them, a number that included 58 official rushing attempts. Whether it’s been designed runs, read options or carries as a result of extending the play and taking off down the field to create something out of nothing, Ehlinger has taken his share of licks during each of his recent starts.

Asked if he’s concerned about putting Ehlinger’s health in jeopardy by continuing to run him so much, a perplexed Herman tried to find the words while his facial expressions read like a coach who knows he’s had to have the ball in his quarterback’s hands as a means of keeping a struggling offense afloat.

“It’s football,” Herman said.

With Buechele appearing likely to make his third start of the season at McLane Stadium this weekend, Herman said on Monday that Buechele is, “as good as probably he’s going to be all season,” noting that the sophomore is still recovering from an ankle injury he sustained on Sept. 28 against Iowa State. Though Buechele is still wearing a brace for protection, Herman noticed Buechele making progress leading up to the Oklahoma State game as he was able to do things on the practice field he hadn’t been able to since the injury occurred.

“I saw a lot more zip on his throws because it is his right ankle and he hadn’t been pushing off of it very well,” Herman said. “I saw a noticeable improvement. When he runs it’s not a gallop like it was.”

Despite five plays of relief duty for Ehlinger against the Sooners being the only snaps Buechele has taken in a game during the month of October, Herman said the 14-game starter has stayed engaged since his playing time has been reduced. Not only has Buechele helped Ehlinger from the sideline, Herman said Buechele has continued to be a leader even though he’s been forced into the role of a bystander.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the way he’s handled it,” Herman said. “Every week I tell him ‘thank you’ for being there for his brother, for being there for his team. Not just for Sam, but for the entire team as a leader. He’s handled it magnificently and I’m sure he’ll handle this next phase of it magnificently as well.”

With Buechele being the only healthy scholarship quarterback the Longhorns will have when practice resumes Tuesday, Herman expects Jerrod Heard to get some work behind center this week. Heard, who has 12 receptions for 116 yards and a touchdown at wide receiver this season, was in quarterback meetings on Sunday prior to the team’s day off on Monday.

Herman said that how much quarterback Heard works this week will depend on when and if Ehlinger is available to practice.

“This is something that you can be cleared in three or four days, but if you have any setbacks along the way it restarts the clock,” Herman said. “It’s too early for me to tell you.”

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