Report: Mack Brown confirms Max Johnson injury is to hip, evaluated in Minneapolis hospital

Mack Brown has provided an update on North Carolina quarterbacked Max Johnson following his injury suffered against Minnesota on Thursday evening.

The Tar Heels leader confirmed Johnson’s injury was to his hip, not his knee or leg like many believed, and he’s being evaluated at a Minneapolis hospital following North Carolina’s victory over the Golden Gophers, per Adam Smith of Inside Carolina.

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“UNC coach Mack Brown tells me injured QB Max Johnson’s injury is a hip injury, not his knee,” Smith wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “Johnson has been taken to a local hospital here in Minneapolis, and the Tar Heels will have to figure out if he’ll travel back to Chapel Hill with the team or stay overnight.”

During his post-game press conference, Brown confirmed that he didn’t know how badly Johnson was hurt: “We’re not sure how badly he’s hurt. He’s at the hospital with his parents, and we will wait. He’s in our thoughts and prayers, for sure, and if we hear something, we will let you know.”

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Before leaving the field, Johnson completed 12 of 19 passes for 71 yards, while tossing a costly interception. On the ground, he had six carries for 10 yards and a touchdown. His longest run on the night was a 16-yarder.

Prior to joining the Tar Heels, Johnson spent two years with LSU and two years with Texas A&M. In 2020 with LSU, Johnson completed 58.7% of his passes for 1,069 yards, while tossing in eight touchdowns with one interception. In 2021, he had his best year in Baton Rouge, completing 60.3% of his passes for 2,815 yards, while tossing in 27 touchdowns with six interceptions.

Johnson’s best year at Texas A&M came in 2023, when he completed 62.1% of his passes for 1,452 yards, while tossing in nine touchdowns with five interceptions.

At the least, Johnson inspired his teammates, and Brown revealed the quarterback will receive a game-ball for his efforts on Thursday: “He was in such pain, I couldn’t. I mean, we all were trying to talk to him, but he was really in pain, so we were just trying to pick him up,” Brown said, regarding what he said to Johnson while his quarterback was on the ground. “I was so proud of those kids. They all came over, and they’re all patting him on the leg and saying, ‘We’re proud of you,’ but he was just a little bit shocked, trying to figure it all out himself, and that’s why I can’t wait to talk to him, and tell him how proud we are.

“The guys are — they gave two game balls tonight, one to Chancellor Roberts, because he’s undefeated as the Chancellor at the University of North Carolina, and that’s pretty cool, and we gave one to Max, and Max doesn’t know it yet. We will get that word to him when we can talk to him.”

Once Johnson left the game on the cart, backup Conner Harrell took his place. He only complied two passes for 34 yards, but he didn’t lose the Tar Heels the game, which is something to commend after the somber mood when Johnson was carted off the field.

Time will tell how bad Max Johnson is hurt, and whether he’s able to suit up again in 2024 for the Tar Heels, but at least North Carolina fought to hang on to their win last night, while their quarterback was forced to leave the game.