AUSTIN, Texas — Texas junior tight end Cade Brewer has passed through concussion protocol and will return to practice with the team on Tuesday, sources close to the situation told Horns247.com.

Brewer is expected to be at the top of the tight end depth chart when it is released on Monday as the Longhorns prepare to open the season Saturday at home against Louisiana Tech.

Horns247 reported Thursday, according to sources, that Brewer suffered a concussion during UT’s “bloody Tuesday” practice last week. Brewer had been in concussion protocol until passing his baseline testing on Saturday, sources said.

Even after passing out of protocol, Texas players don’t go through contact in their first day returning to practice.

Sunday’s practice for the Longhorns is a walkthrough (just like it is during the season). Monday is the players’ day off, so Brewer’s first practice with the team will be this week’s “bloody Tuesday” practice.

Brewer’s return to the team is big news because of the importance of the tight end in Tom Herman’s offense, which demands that tight ends do everything from in-line blocking and pass protection, to lining up in the backfield as an H-back to flexing out wide.

Brewer is seeking to replace Andrew Beck, an All-Big 12 selection last season (at fullback) who caught 28 passes for 281 yards and two touchdowns.

After catching nine passes for 80 yards and two touchdowns through his first 10 games as a freshman in 2017, Brewer tore (ACL) knee ligaments leading up to the West Virginia game in November of that season.

Missing most of the off-season training leading up to 2018 and behind Beck on the depth chart, Brewer caught only two passes for 19 yards in last season.

But Brewer, who is roommates with Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger and defensive backs Brandon Jones and Josh Thompson, has taken more of a leadership role heading into this season.

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Tight ends coach Derek Warehime said Brewer’s hands “are as good as anyone on our team.”

Brewer had a one-handed catch in a scrimmage on Aug. 18 that made ESPN SportsCenter’s Top 10 plays of the day.

One of the big questions for Ehlinger going into this season has been his ability to connect on touch passes such as seam routes down the field after struggling to connect with Beck on those passes, at times, last season.

Brewer said he and Ehlinger have “cleaned that up. We’ve both improved that part of the game.”

Sophomore Reese Leitao has backed up Brewer, followed by freshmen Jared Wiley and Brayden Liebrock. Wiley is coming off a “twisted knee,” according to Tom Herman.

Warehime has said all of Texas’ tight ends have had to learn the demands of Herman’s offense after playing other positions in high school.

Brewer and Liebrock were flexed out more as receivers. Leitao sent most of his time in high school playing as a 4i defensive end, and Wiley played quarterback his senior season at Temple (and also served as Temple’s placekicker).