UNC loses QB Johnson for season after surgery for broken right leg suffered in Minnesota win

Updated Aug. 30, 2024 4:44 p.m. ET

Associated Press

North Carolina quarterback Max Johnson will miss the rest of the season after having surgery for a broken right leg, coming after he was carted off in the season-opening win at Minnesota and taken to the hospital.

The school announced Johnson's status on Friday, saying he had surgery in Minneapolis and is accompanied by his parents there. He will return to Chapel Hill in coming days and is expected to make a full recovery.

Conner Harrell, who played for the Tar Heels in last season’s bowl game after Drake Maye declared for the draft, led the team the rest of the way in Thursday's 19-17 win at Minnesota and would be positioned to take over the starting job for Saturday's home game against Charlotte.

Johnson, the son of former NFL quarterback Brad Johnson, had transferred from Texas A&M and won the starting job over Harrell to replace Maye, the No. 3 overall NFL draft pick. But he was hurt when his leg bent awkwardly as he was taken to the ground on a blitz by Justin Walley in the third quarter of the game.

Johnson immediately clutched his leg around the knee and stayed down for several minutes before being carted off the field.

The fifth-year quarterback, who started his career with two years at LSU, finished 12 for 19 for 71 yards with one interception while also running for a score. The team awarded Johnson a game ball afterward.

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