Max Johnson has a nice moment
Quarterback Max Johnson's gruesome leg injury last season at Minnesota is well known, and the details still make my stomach feel a bit ill, so let's not rehash that.
When Gio Lopez was hit in the middle of the third quarter, leading to a TCU scoop-and-score fumble recovery, Max Johnson returned to the football field for live action a year after that brutal injury. Facing a third-and-8 situation on his opening drive, Johnson showed no fear while getting blasted in the face by defensive lineman Tristan Johnson:
Standing in there & making a throw while taking this hit … then capping off a drive with a TD to your brother.
— Jon Tweets Sports (@jontweetssports) September 2, 2025
Max Johnson. Ball player. pic.twitter.com/nU2AZdV9vI
Not shown in that video was the 16-yard completion to Jordan Shipp for a first down. Johnson would later seal that possession up with a touchdown pass to his brother Jake:
Welcome back, Max 🙌 pic.twitter.com/BsVAjsQ7se
— Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) September 2, 2025
Will Max Johnson continue to take snaps for UNC? That will largely depend on the health of Gio Lopez. But if this was the only time that we get to watch him play in a Carolina uniform, it's nice to see that he's recovered enough to go from possibly having to amputate his leg, to connecting with his brother in the end zone.
We'll have to take our good news where we can, because everything else about this game was grim. On to Charlotte!