UNC loses QB Johnson for the season after surgery on a broken right leg sustained in win over Minnesota

North Carolina quarterback Max Johnson will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his broken right leg. after he was carried off the field in the season-opening win in Minnesota and taken to the hospital.

The school announced Johnson's status on Friday, saying he had undergone surgery in Minneapolis and was accompanied there by his parents. He will return to Chapel Hill in the next few days and is expected to make a full recovery.

Conner Harrell, who played in the bowl game for the Tar Heels last season after Drake Maye declared for the draft, led the team the rest of the way in The 19-17 victory on Thursday in Minnesota and could take the starting position in Saturday's home game against Charlotte.

Johnson, the son of former NFL quarterback Brad Johnson, had transferred from Texas A&M and beat out Harrell to be the starter to replace Maye, the third-overall NFL draft pick, but he was injured when he was tackled to the ground on a blitz by Justin Walley in the third quarter of the game, twisting his leg.

Johnson immediately clutched his leg around the knee and remained lying there for several minutes before being carted off the field.

The fifth-year quarterback, who began his career with two years at LSU, finished the game completing 12 of 19 passes for 71 yards, one interception and one run for a touchdown. The team then gave Johnson a game ball.

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