Max Johnson of UNC was taken off against Minnesota due to a hip injury.
North Carolina quarterback Max Johnson was carted off the field with a hip injury during the third quarter of a 19-17 victory against Minnesota on Thursday night in Minneapolis. Johnson, who transferred from Texas A&M this offseason, earned the starting role after a close competition with Conner Harrell.
During the game, Johnson struggled with consistency, partly due to an inexperienced offensive line featuring four new starters. Late in the third quarter, Johnson was sacked by Minnesota's Justin Walley during a blitz. He landed awkwardly on his right knee and immediately grabbed it in pain. His parents, Nikki and Brad Johnson — the latter a former NFL quarterback — watched the incident in stunned silence from the stands.
In a postgame interview, UNC coach Mack Brown confirmed that Johnson had injured his hip and was taken to a local hospital. It was uncertain whether Johnson would travel back with the team that night.
"I hate that Max got hurt, for him and for us. Conner has got to step up," Brown remarked.
Johnson, who previously played for LSU and Texas A&M, hoped to revive his career at UNC after inconsistent performances at his former schools. Despite his experience, Johnson finished the night completing 12 of 19 passes for 71 yards, with one interception and a rushing touchdown. He was replaced by Harrell, a redshirt sophomore who went 2-of-4 for 34 yards. Harrell led a late drive that set up the game-winning field goal with 1:44 remaining.
Max Johnson's injury has the potential to impact North Carolina's season significantly, given his role as a key transfer who brought both experience and leadership to a team looking to build on its success from the previous year. After starting his collegiate career at LSU in 2020 and transferring to Texas A&M in 2022, Johnson brought a total of 22 starts and 30 appearances across both programs. His decision to transfer to North Carolina was seen as a fresh start for him, following the departure of first-round draft pick Drake Maye.
Johnson’s early struggles against Minnesota were evident, with North Carolina’s offensive line also failing to protect him adequately, especially with four new starters in the lineup. The sack that resulted in his hip injury came after Minnesota's Justin Walley executed a well-timed blitz from the secondary. Johnson's awkward fall and immediate reaction indicated the seriousness of the injury, with the team quickly carting him off the field.
Conner Harrell, who had been in a tight competition with Johnson for the starting job during the offseason, now faces the challenge of stepping into the lead role. Harrell, a redshirt sophomore, served as the backup to Drake Maye last season and gained some starting experience in the Tar Heels’ bowl game. His performance in Thursday’s game, while limited, was steady enough to guide the team to victory, including the late drive that resulted in the game-winning field goal.
As North Carolina awaits further details on the severity of Johnson’s injury, Harrell will likely be called upon to lead the team moving forward. Coach Mack Brown emphasized that the team will need to rally around Harrell, who now has a crucial opportunity to prove himself as the starting quarterback.
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