UNC QB Max Johnson Out for 2024 CFB Season After Surgery on Broken Leg Injury

Andrew PetersAugust 30, 2024

Bailey Hillesheim/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

North Carolina quarterback Max Johnson is out for the season after just one game.

Johnson, a senior, was carted off the field during the third quarter of Thursday’s season-opener against Minnesota with a right leg injury. Per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, he “underwent successful surgery in Minneapolis to repair a broken right leg on Friday.”

Johnson will return to Chapel Hill in the coming days and “is expected to make a full recovery.”

Johnson had a shaky start for the Tar Heels, completing 12 of 19 passes for 71 yards and an interception before the injury. He also had 10 yards on the ground and rushed for a touchdown.

Johnson started his career at LSU in 2020, coming out of high school as a 4-star recruit according to 247Sports Composite. After limited action in his freshman season, Johnson had a strong sophomore year with 2,815 passing yards, 27 touchdowns and six interceptions.

He transferred to Texas A&M ahead of the 2022 season with future Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels coming to LSU, and he once again returned to a backup role for the Aggies. Last year, he took over as Texas A&M’s starter, throwing for 1,452 passing yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions after Conner Weigman was limited to just four games with an injury.

Johnson joined the Tar Heels looking for a fresh start, and North Carolina welcomed the experienced quarterback as it looked to replace star signal-caller Drake Maye.

The Tar Heels will instead have to turn to a less experienced quarterback in sophomore Conner Harrell, who completed two of his four passes for 34 yards in Thursday’s win after stepping in for Johnson.

Harrell, a 3-star recruit coming out of high school according to 247Sports Composite, saw limited reps his freshman year while playing behind Maye. He played three regular season games, throwing for 71 yards and a touchdown on 4-of-6 passing.

He then started North Carolina’s bowl game against West Virginia, completing 18 of 27 passes for 199 passing yards, a touchdown and two interceptions in a 30-10 loss.

After losing a QB1 competition with Johnson over the offseason, Harrell wasn’t expecting to be the starter, but now that he’s under center he’ll look to make the most of it.