North Carolina loses starting cornerback, center to injuries
- Sep. 09, 2019 01:02 PM EDT
North Carolina's Myles Dorn (1) celebrates a big stop with teammate Patrice Rene (5) during the first quarter of the team's NCAA college football game against Miami in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
North Carolina's Myles Dorn (1) celebrates a big stop with teammate Patrice Rene (5) during the first quarter of the team's NCAA college football game against Miami in Chapel Hill, N.C., Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)
North Carolina head coach Mack Brown watches his team warm up prior to an NCAA college football game against South Carolina in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
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CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina says starting cornerback Patrice Rene will miss the rest of the season with a torn knee ligament.

Coach Mack Brown also said Monday that starting center Nick Polino is out indefinitely with a lower body injury but hopes he can return by the end of the season.

Brown says Rene tore his right anterior cruciate ligament. Both he and Polino left the Tar Heels' victory over Miami on Saturday night early.

Sophomore Brian Anderson, Polino's backup, was listed as the starter at center with freshman Ty Murray as his backup. Greg Ross was elevated to the first string at cornerback with freshman Storm Duck backing him up.

The Tar Heels (2-0) visit Wake Forest (2-0) in a nonconference game Friday night.

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