Star junior wide receiver Josh Downs will not suit up for the Tar Heels in their Week 1 game at Appalachian State. Though Downs made the trip to Boone, the wideout was seen in street clothes during on-field warmups.

Downs was injured late in UNC’s win against Florida A&M in the season opener while catching his second touchdown pass of the game. After catching the pass, Downs was hit by two Rattler defenders and got up limping. He originally indicated he’d be able to play against the Mountaineers, but now will miss his first game as a Tar Heel. A UNC spokesman described Downs as having a “lower-body injury.”

Downs set the UNC school record for catches in a single season in 2021 and was named a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation’s top pass-catcher. Downs was also named preseason All-ACC and a preseason second team All-American by multiple publications, including the Associated Press and the Sporting News.

The Tar Heels and Mountaineers will kick off at 12 p.m. on ESPNU. For more information on how to watch or listen to the game, click here.

 

Featured image via Associated Press/Chris Seward

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees, and you can directly support our efforts in local journalism here. Want more of what you see on Chapelboro? Let us bring free local news and community information to you by signing up for our biweekly newsletter.

Related Stories
‹
UNC's Ja'Qurious Conley Has Entered the Transfer Portal. Here's the Complete List of Football Transfers
The college football transfer portal has re-opened with the conclusion of the spring practice season. Carolina already has players in the portal, in addition to the handful of Tar Heels who entered in the immediate aftermath of the season. Here’s a complete list of all of the transfers since last December: DB Ja’Qurious Conley An […]
Which Transfers Are Joining UNC Football Next Season? Here's a Complete Tracker
After losing several players to the NCAA transfer portal, the UNC football team is already working to plug the gaps. Here’s a complete tracker of which transfers have committed to play for head coach Mack Brown and the Tar Heels in 2023: DB Antavious Lane (Georgia State) A late addition to UNC’s transfer class, Lane […]
Drake Maye Wins Two Freshman of the Year Awards
UNC’s signal-caller keeps racking up awards. Redshirt freshman quarterback Drake Maye, who already has an ACC Player of the Year award to his name, was named the National Freshman of the Year by the Football Writers’ Association of America and the winner of the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award. Drake Maye is the […]
Art's Angle: Holiday Heartbreak
A gallant effort came down to another red-zone rebuff and a couple of coaching decisions, as the Tar Heels missed a chance to win their 10th game by a boink and a bounce at the Holiday Bowl in San Diego. Despite the 28-27 defeat to 15th-ranked Oregon, Mack Brown and his revamped coaching staff will […]
UNC Football Loses Late Lead in Holiday Bowl Defeat
An Oregon touchdown with 19 seconds remaining broke the hearts of the Tar Heels Wednesday night in San Diego, as Carolina couldn’t answer in the dying moments of the 2022 Holiday Bowl, a 28-27 loss. For UNC, it’s the third straight bowl loss and fourth straight loss this season, as the team will end 9-5 […]
Chansky's Notebook: Keep it Going!
Can North Carolina and the ACC stay bowl unbeaten? After NC Central and East Carolina won their bowl games, the Old North State and the also 2-0 ACC will try to keep their spotless postseasons going. The Big Four of North Carolina all qualified for bowl games from the ACC’s impressive total of nine teams […]
Chansky's Notebook: Whose Hangover?
Guess we could call this game the QB Bowl or the Meltdown Bowl. There are several themes of the Holiday Bowl Wednesday night at 8 when the unranked Tar Heels take on No. 15 Oregon in a game where you could play whoever has the ball last will win. The Ducks have quarterback Bo Nix, […]
Chansky's Notebook: Turnover, Tampering
Mack Brown had his pre-bowl press conference and let it all hang out. The Carolina football coach is excited about his new coaching hires, upset about what the transfer portal and NIL are doing to the game and is glad his team has a chance to beat 15th-ranked Oregon, which is a two-touchdown favorite in […]
UNC Football Names Chip Lindsey as Offensive Coordinator
Just one day after hiring Randy Clements as its new offensive line coach, the UNC football program has made another hire. The Tar Heels announced Chip Lindsey as their new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Thursday morning. Welcome to the Hill, Coach Lindsey 🐏 🔗 https://t.co/laddVCx0SM#CarolinaFootball 🏈 #UNCommon pic.twitter.com/uypJIbLr80 — Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) December 15, […]
UNC WR Josh Downs to Opt Out of Holiday Bowl, Declare for NFL Draft
Star UNC wide receiver Josh Downs is going pro. On Friday morning, Downs announced he would be opting out of Carolina’s Holiday Bowl game against Oregon later this month to prepare for the 2023 NFL Draft. born, bred, dead.. 💙 pic.twitter.com/3TEnDBryUz — Glory to God. (@JoshDowns) December 9, 2022 Downs is UNC’s single-season record holder […]
›