North Carolina QB Max Johnson carted off with right knee injury in win over Minnesota

North Carolina QB Max Johnson suffered a serious right knee injury in the third quarter of the Tar Heels’ 19-17 season opener on Thursday night.

The Texas A&M transfer’s right knee buckled awkwardly on a play late in the third quarter and he had to be carried off the field. Johnson was making his first start for the Tar Heels after winning a quarterback competition in the offseason after arriving from College Station.

North Carolina is Johnson’s third school after starting his career at LSU before transferring to Texas A&M. He is the son of former NFL QB Brad Johnson, and both Brad and his wife Nikki were at the game. Fox’s footage of Max’s parents taking in what had happened as he was carried off the field was tough to watch.

Conner Harrell replaced Johnson after the injury. Harrell started the Tar Heels’ bowl game a season ago after Drake Maye declared for the NFL Draft. When asked after the game about Johnson’s injury, North Carolina coach Mack Brown said he didn’t know because he wanted Johnson’s parents to hear from doctors before he did.

Johnson was 12-of-19 passing for 71 yards and an interception before the injury and also rushed for a TD. He has played in 12 games over the past two seasons at A&M and had his best season at LSU in 2021 when he threw for 2,815 yards and 27 TDs.

After Johnson left the game, North Carolina got the winning points on a Noah Burnette field goal with less than two minutes left. Minnesota drove down the field and had a 47-yard field goal attempt for the win, but Dragan Kesich’s kick sailed wide of the right.