UNC quarterback Max Johnson undergoes surgery for broken leg, will miss season
North Carolina quarterback Max Johnson has undergone surgery for a broken leg , the school said Friday.
Johnson injured his right leg Thursday night in the Tar Heels’ 19-17 opening-game win at Minnesota. He was taken to a local hospital for treatment and then surgery in Minneapolis.
Johnson, a graduate transfer from Texas A&M, is expected to make a full recovery will but sit out the remainder of the 2024 season, UNC said.
Johnson was hit late in the third quarter of the game at Huntington Bank Stadium as he got off a pass, falling awkwardly. He immediately clutched his right leg and after being evaluated by medial personnel was taken off the field on a cart.
Conner Harrell, a redshirt sophomore, took over at QB as the Tar Heels rallied for the two-point win over the Big Ten team on Noah Burnette’s late field goal -- his fourth of the game.
Johnson started the opener and was shaky early -- “We were trying too hard on offense,” UNC coach Mack Brown said. The Tar Heels developed a better rhythm in the third quarter, but Johnson was hit by blitzing cornerback Justin Walley and went down in the third quarter.
“We looked at [Johnson],” senior linebacker Power Echols said, “We said, ‘We got you. We’re going to win this for you.’”
With his starting quarterback injured, Brown urgently searched for Harrell among the UNC players, but found him already warming up.
Despite being told the previous week that he wouldn’t start, Harrell never sulked. He remained engaged on the sideline, staying loose and providing feedback whenever Johnson asked about what he was observing on the field.
Before Harrell entered the huddle in the third quarter, Brown reminded him of his abilities and assured him he was prepared for this moment.Harrell’s response was straightforward: “We’re good, coach.”
Harrell likely will be starter and Jacolby Criswell will be the backup at QB for the Tar Heels’ home opener against Charlotte.
