Arch Manning injury update: Texas announces star QB underwent precautionary foot surgery

Arch Manning is taking care of his body as the offseason hits its stride for Texas. The Longhorns announced on Friday that their star quarterback underwent minor foot surgery this week.

The decision was “a preventative measure to address a previous injury,” per Texas via Kirk Bohls of the Houston Chronicle. Moving forward, Manning will be limited during off-season workouts, but he’s expected back during spring football.

He wasn’t the only Longhorns player undergoing an operation, either. Bohls noted that defensive back Xavier Filsaime (shoulder), left tackle Trevor Goosby (shoulder), wide receiver Emmett Mosley V (ankle), linebacker Ty’Anthony Smith (shoulder), and wide receiver Ryan Wingo (wrist) will, as well.

In the 13 games that Manning played during the 2025 season, he threw for 3,163 yards and 26 touchdowns, compared to just seven interceptions. On the ground, he rushed for 399 yards and 10 touchdowns. 

He’s set to return to Austin for another go-round, and the hype train is picking up steam once again. Paul Finebaum of ESPN boldly predicted that Manning is going to win the Heisman Trophy and become the No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick next season.

“I can’t help but think back to six months ago today when a bespeckled, balding, aging, former sportswriter appeared on your show,” Finebaum said on Get Up. “And made the prediction that everybody hated about Arch Manning being the next Tim Tebow. He wasn’t that. But in the last two months of the season, I’m gonna give him the Heisman. You can’t give him the Heisman for the last two months, but he was one of the best players, if not the best quarterback in the country.”

Prior to the season, Finebaum had been among Manning’s biggest supporters. That did, famously, include comparing him to legendary Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. In August, before the 2025 season, he even predicted that Manning was going to win the Heisman Trophy. That didn’t happen, though, as he struggled early in the year.

Despite getting burned on his Heisman prediction this past season, Finebaum was ready to make the pick again. He explained that with Manning set to return to Texas, he will position himself to win the sport’s most prestigious honor and then go on to be the top pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

“I think whether he’s one [in the NFL Draft] or not next year, he’s making a smart decision. He’s a Manning. Remember, Peyton Manning 30 years ago decided to stay at Tennessee when he would’ve been the No. 1 pick. I think Arch Manning will come back. Yes, I’m going to say it right now on New Year’s Day,” Finebaum said. “He will win the Heisman next year and he will be the No. 1 pick in the Draft.”

It’s safe to say that Finebaum isn’t going to be the only pundit high on him going into next season. After the improvement he showed throughout this past year, Manning could be setting up for a legendary 2026.

— On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this article.