UNC football could be without stars Josh Downs, Tony Grimes for Appalachian State game
North Carolina's season-opening victory against Florida A&M left the Tar Heels with some significant bumps and bruises.
UNC announced Monday that junior wide receiver Josh Downs and junior cornerback Tony Grimes both sustained injuries that will be evaluated throughout the week before determining their availability for Saturday's game at Appalachian State.
Downs is the Tar Heels' top receiving threat and an All-Atlantic Coast Conference candidate. He led UNC with 101 catches for 1,335 yards and eight touchdowns last season and kicked off 2022 with a nine-catch, 78-yard, two-touchdown effort against FAMU.
The 5-foot-10, 175-pounder injured his left knee after scoring his second touchdown Saturday. He arrived at the post-game press conference wearing an ice pack on the knee, but indicated to reporters it wasn't anything serious.
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Grimes suffered an upper-body injury in the first quarter against FAMU when he came up to tackle running back Terrell Jennings. Grimes stopped Jennings for a 4-yard gain on the third offensive series of the game, but didn't immediately come to his feet after the play. He left the field under his own power, but didn't return to the field.
One of UNC's top secondary performers last season, Grimes made 47 tackles, two tackles for loss and nine pass breakups.
Redshirt freshman Kobe Paysour is listed as the backup to Downs on UNC's depth chart for this week, while true freshman Marcus Allen is behind Grimes. If Grimes isn't available, however, junior Storm Duck or redshirt freshman Dontae Balfour are likely replacements.
The Tar Heels (1-0) are scheduled to take on the Mountaineers at noon Saturday in Kidd-Brewer Stadium (noon, ESPNU). UNC head coach Mack Brown served as head coach for one season (1983) at Appalachian State, directing the Mountaineers to a 6-5 finish before leaving to become offensive coordinator at Oklahoma.
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This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: UNC football could be without stars Josh Downs, Tony Grimes for Appalachian State game
