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University of North Carolina star defensive lineman Melkart Abou Jaoude recorded a sack after leaving the Tar Heels’ season opener against TCU with a hand injury.
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Two weeks later in the team’s home opener on Saturday, an apparent injury to his right hand/arm kept him off the field.
Abou Jaoude didn’t leave the sideline as UNC played its 100th home opener at Kenan Memorial Stadium on Saturday against East Tennessee State University. He wore his jersey, but with no pads, sweatpants and a brace or cast protecting his right hand/arm. He did not play as the Tar Heels won 35-3.
UNC coach Bill Belichick said after the game that the defensive lineman was “day to day.”
“Nobody’s working harder than he is to get back,” Belichick said. “So you know, hopefully, we get it back as soon as possible.”
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In UNC’s 15-10 win over the Horned Frogs on Aug. 29 in Dublin, Ireland, Abou Jaoude left for just over a drive with a hand injury. But he was a force upon returning to the game. He recorded a sack-fumble to add to his four tackles in the game, as the Tar Heels defense closed the door on every TCU opportunity to take a late lead. The performance, along with 2.0 sacks from interior defensive lineman Xavier Lewis, anchored the first season opening win of the Bill Belichick era in Chapel Hill.
Abou Jaoude is coming off a career season with 10.5 sacks, helping him secure a 2025 second team All-ACC selection. But UNC showed for another game that it has more pass-rushing options to fill in his absence. Lewis tallied another two-sack performance, and defensive lineman Jaylen Harvey added 2.0 sacks and another quarterback hit that led to an interception by defensive back Greg Smith on ETSU’s first drive.
“We got some dogs on our defense,” UNC linebacker Peyton Seelmann said. “Love playing with those guys. A bunch of physical dudes. We fly around. Just glad to be a part of it.”
The Tar Heels continue their season on the road next week with an ACC game at Clemson.
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This story was originally published September 12, 2026 at 1:14 PM.