Max Johnson’s time in Minneapolis is being extended following his severe leg injury suffered Thursday night.
Head coach Mack Brown spoke to the media this morning in Chapel Hill and said that Johnson will be having another procedure done during the course of today. In terms of his return to Chapel Hill, Brown said he is uncertain. “He may be back in a week. It may be two weeks.”
The good news for Johnson is that he is a prime candidate for a medical redshirt after playing in just one game this year. If he gets it, he would have two years of eligibility remaining, something that was confirmed by Brown earlier today.
As first reported by Inside Carolina on Friday, Johnson will miss the remainder of the 2024 season after having surgery on a broken femur on Friday morning. The injury occurred late in the third quarter on Thursday night on an incompletion intended for Paul Billups II where he was being pressured and had his right leg fallen on by Minnesota corner Justin Walley.
The injury came as Johnson was settling into the game after a rough first half. Heading into the locker room at halftime, he was just 4-10 for 28 yards and an interception. In his final two drives of the game after coming out of the half, he was 8-10 for 43 yards and helped lead the team down for a field goal on a drive that took 8:21 off the clock. Unfortunately, he will finish his first season with the Tar Heels with 71 yards and an interception on 12-19 passing and a rushing touchdown.
With him done for the season, the expectation is that the Tar Heels will now turn to Conner Harrell who replaced him and helped lead the team to the win last night. While Harrell may not have been great last night (2-4, 35 yds, 3 rush, -3 yds), the game plan did not seem to be set up for him like it was for last year’s bowl game. The hope is that with a week to prepare and a beatable Charlotte team coming to Chapel Hill for the home opener, he’ll be able to show us the potential that he did in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl. If he struggles again, don’t be shocked if the staff starts working to try to get Jacolby Criswell ready to compete in the near future.
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