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North Carolina QB Max Johnson to miss remainder of 2024 season with leg injury
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Max Johnson will miss the remainder of the 2024 season with a leg injury, North Carolina announced on Friday afternoon.
Johnson started UNC’s Week 1 win over Minnesota on Thursday night, but exited the contest with what appeared to be a serious leg injury. UNC confirmed the severity, saying Friday he underwent surgery to repair a broken right leg.
The surgery took place in Minneapolis, per Carolina’s announcement. Johnson is expected to return to Chapel Hill “in a few days.”
Official word from UNC on QB Max Johnson. Tough break for the kid: "Johnson underwent successful surgery in Minneapolis to repair a broken right leg Friday. Johnson will return to Chapel Hill in a few days & is expected to make a full recovery. He'll miss the rest of the season"
— BFriedACC (@BFriedACC) August 30, 2024
Inside Carolina’s Adam Smith reports that Johnson suffered a broken femur.
It’s devastating news for both Johnson and the Tar Heels. Johnson was a player UNC identified early on in the transfer window last offseason as it sought a replacement for Drake Maye.
Carolina will now turn to Conner Harrell, who competed with Johnson for the starting job during fall camp. Harrell replaced Johnson in the offense on Thursday night and produced mixed results, but ultimately got the job done by leading UNC on a field goal drive in the game’s final minutes. He completed 2-of-4 passes for 34 yards in the win over the Golden Gophers.
Harrell also played in UNC’s bowl game loss last season. He completed 18-of-27 passes for 207 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions in a loss against West Virginia.
The good news for Carolina is that its schedule is set to ease up considerably in the coming weeks before the start of ACC play. UNC will face Charlotte, James Madison and NC Central over the next 3 weekends.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
