UNC QB Max Johnson Says He Feared Losing His Leg Amid 5 Surgeries for Injury

Max Johnson suffered a season-ending leg injury during North Carolina's 2024 season-opening matchup against Minnesota, an injury so serious that Johnson revealed he was concerned he might need to undergo amputation.

"There was a point in time where I thought I was going to lose my leg," he told reporters on Saturday, adding that the injury required five surgeries to repair.

Back in April, Johnson shared a video on social media that documented his recovery process from his broken right leg, which included an image of a scar running from his knee all the way up his thigh:

Johnson is battling this summer with transfer Gio Lopez for the starting gig, though it feels like Lopez likely will at least open the season as the starter.

Lopez threw for 2,559 yards, 18 touchdowns and five interceptions last season at South Alabama, completing 66 percent of his passes while rushing for 463 yards and another seven scores. He was also Belichick's choice in the transfer portal, while Johnson was inherited.

"He's one of the greatest coaches of all time, if not the greatest," Lopez told CBS Sports' Chris Hummer regarding Belichick. "So, you know, being handpicked by him to be his quarterback is special. I want to live up to that."

Johnson, meanwhile, won the job last season after transferring from Texas A&M. In a five-year college career that has included stops at LSU, Texas A&M and North Carolina, Johnson has thrown for 5,923 yards, 47 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, completing 60.5 percent of his passes while rushing for 178 yards and six scores.

He'll still have the chance to win the starting gig, of course, even if it feels like Lopez is trending toward being the Week 1 guy. The fact that Johnson is even in a position to be competing for that spot, however, is impressive given the nature of the leg injury he had to overcome.