North Carolina quarterback Max Johnson was carted off the field after suffering a leg injury late in the third quarter of Thursday night’s game against Minnesota. Johnson’s right leg was trapped beneath him and bent at an awkward angle as he tried to avoid a sack by throwing the ball away.

Team trainers initially tried to help Johnson off the field, but eventually placed him on a cart when it became apparent that his leg could not bear any weight.

On the FOX television cameras, Max’s parents, Brad and Nikki, were visibly upset in the stands – and understandably so. This was Johnson’s first game in North Carolina after transferring from Texas A&M, where he played in 12 games in two years. Johnson has one year of eligibility remaining.

Before leaving the game, Johnson completed 12 of his 19 pass attempts for 71 yards with one interception. He also had 10 rushing yards, three of which came on a touchdown scramble in the second quarter. That was North Carolina’s only touchdown at the time of Johnson’s injury.

Sophomore quarterback Conner Harrell came on in place of Johnson and led the Tar Heels to a 52-yard field goal, cutting Minnesota’s lead to 14–13 in the fourth quarter. The Tar Heels would go on to win the game 19-17 after Minnesota missed what would have been a game-winning field goal as time expired.

Johnson, a former three-star prospect from Watkinsville, Georgia, initially signed with LSU in the 2020 class and spent two seasons with the Tigers, starting all 12 games in 22 as a sophomore with the Tigers.

Max’s father, Brian, played 17 seasons in the NFL and won a Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.