For the past few weeks, Northwestern fans have been wondering why highly-touted five-star transfer quarterback Hunter Johnson has remained on the sideline as starter Aidan Smith struggled. Now, thanks to the reporting of Teddy Greenstein and the Chicago Tribune, part of the answer to those questions have been revealed.
Though, as Pat Fitzgerald already told the media, a relatively minor knee injury held Johnson out initially, a key factor in his absence from the starting role has been a family health issue. His mother, Shana, is currently in the midst of recovery from chemotherapy and a mastectomy that occurred fewer than two weeks ago after a recent diagnosis of breast cancer, according to the Tribune.