Jimbo Fisher updates status of Max Johnson following injury against Mississippi State

On3 imageby:Tim Verghese10/04/22

TimVerghese

Texas A&M is coming off a brutal 42-24 loss to Mississippi State, but don’t have any time to hang their head over the loss with a trip to Alabama just days away. The Aggies will enter the contest with the status of their starting quarterback unknown, after Max Johnson suffered a hand injury in the second half of Saturday’s loss.

In Monday’s press conference, Fisher updated the status of Johnson and as well as what the Aggies’ plan will be if Johnson can’t play.

“We’ll go day-to-day,” Fisher said. “He banged his hand. We’ll go day-to-day… We’ll get Haynes [King] and Conner [Weigman] ready to play if Max can’t go.”

Don’t expect a definitive answer on Johnson’s status ahead of the game though, as Fisher added:

“What do you want me to do? Call Nick (Saban) and tell him?”

In relief of Johnson, King led two touchdown drives, completing 6 for 13 passes for 49 yards, adding 14 yards and a touchdown on two carries, but did throw two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown.

“Haynes came and led us straight down, made a great drive,” Fisher said. “His decision making was good. Unfortunately he had a couple of breaks where the ball tipped the wrong way but he was doing the right thing. He came in and led well and took us to two touchdown drives as a matter of fact.”

King has upside, but has struggled with turnovers in the action he’s seen this season. If it comes down to it, Fisher noted that the team is comfortable with freshman Conner Weigman, a five-star prospect coming out of Cypress (Tex.) Bridgeland.

“We give him reps every week with the twos,” Fisher said. “He’s knowledgeable, sits right by me on the plane when we travel, he can do things in the meetings and is really progressing. He understands everything, what we’re doing, and how we’re doing it, and is getting better and better. I think he is going to be a very good player.”

He added.

“We feel comfortable with him in the game and can play very well with Conner.”

King won the starting job in fall camp, and threw for 461 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions, adding 52 yards on the ground, through his first two starts. Due to turnovers, and a stagnant offensive showing in the loss to Appalachian State, Fisher made the change from King to Johnson ahead of the Miami game and the LSU transfer’s steady play helped the Aggies to a 17-9 win over the Hurricanes, and the following week, a 23-21 come from behind win against Arkansas. Prior to leaving the game on Saturday, Johnson completed 19 of 26 pass attempts for 203 yards and a touchdown, but fumbled in the red zone, costing the Aggies a scoring opportunity.

Texas A&M faces No. 1 Alabama on Saturday in Tuscaloosa. The game will air on CBS at 7 p.m. CST.