UNC's Sam Howell Could Miss Wofford Game with Upper-Body Injury, per HC Mack Brown

North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell could miss the team's final home game of the season Saturday with an upper-body injury.

Team spokesman Jeremy Sharpe told reporters Monday that Howell is considered day-to-day and would work with team doctors throughout the week. 

"He wants to play Saturday," head coach Mack Brown added. "If he can, he will."

While Howell is a junior, Brown said the Wofford game should be Howell's final home game given he expects him to declare for the NFL draft after the season. 

"I haven't thought Sam was coming back since last year," he said. "I have never had one thought about him coming back, and he's going to be a first-round draft choice. So I think he should leave."

ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. did not have Howell listed as one of his top 25 players on his latest big board and had him ranked as the No. 5 quarterback prospect for the 2022 NFL draft behind Pitt's Kenny Pickett, Liberty's Malik Willis, Ole Miss' Matt Corral and Cincinnati's Desmond Ridder. 

After throwing for 3,641 yards, 38 touchdowns and seven interceptions as a freshman and 3,586 yards, 30 touchdowns and seven picks as a sophomore, Howell has struggled more in his junior campaign, with 2,704 yards, 22 scores and eight interceptions. His 63.5 completion percentage is down from 68.1 percent last year, and the 38 sacks he's taken this season are the most of his career. 

His offensive line hasn't exactly helped him in that regard, leaving Howell pretty beat up at this point. To his credit, he's yet to miss a game in his college career. Howell also lost a ton of talented players at the skill positions (Javonte Williams and Michael Carter at running back, Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome at wideout) to the NFL draft between seasons.

It's hard to imagine Howell returning as a senior given the potential he could be a first-round pick. If he's unable to play against Wofford, then, it's very possible he won't play in front of the Tar Heels fans again.