CHAPEL HILL — Quarterback T.J. Yates played in North
Carolina's final offensive series against Georgia Tech last weekend, but junior Cameron Sexton will remain the Tar Heels' starter when they play at Maryland on Saturday.

"There's no question. He's going to continue to be the starting quarterback,'' coach Butch Davis said Wednesday. "And we still don't know to any stretch of the imagination right now, on T.J, how fully healthy that he is. Although he's played in a game, he hasn't had to scramble for his life, he hasn't had to take a sack, he hasn't gotten hit and had to uncover himself under a big pile of people.

CHAPEL HILL — Quarterback T.J. Yates’ lone completion in the fourth quarter against Georgia Tech on Saturday was notable for two reasons: he had been sidelined since Sept. 20 with a fractured left ankle, and the 28-yard  toss to Hakeem Nicks made Nicks UNC’s career leader in receiving yardage, passing Corey Holliday.

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates, who has been sidelined for six weeks because of a fractured ankle, said today he is hoping to return to contact practice as early as this afternoon.

But even when he is ready to play in games again, he said he is prepared for the fact that he may return in a backup role behind junior Cameron Sexton, who is 4-1 as a starter.

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates went through individual drills and some non-contact 7-on-7 drills last week. But coach Butch Davis said he won’t know until Tuesday whether the sophomore, who has missed five games with a fractured ankle, will be able to do more.

UNC coach Butch Davis said Sunday that sophomore quarterback T.J. Yates, who has been sidelined for five weeks with a fractured left ankle, may be ready to participate in some drills by the end of this week.

His movement in the pocket will be limited. Davis was unsure whether tight end Zack Pianalto, who has sat out two games with a sprained ankle, will be ready for UNC's next game.

CHAPEL HILL — You win with your fastball and you lose knowing the other team beat your fastball. That's coaching at its lowest common denominator.

Boston College got UNC's fastball on Saturday, a week after the Tar Heels lost with their changeup.

North Carolina quarterback T.J. Yates is “progressing nicely” as he rehabilitates his fractured left ankle, coach Butch Davis said Sunday.

But asked if he expected the sophomore back in the six weeks originally projected, meaning about two weeks from now, Davis said he didn’t know.

“He has started jogging and he has started throwing, and obviously he is out of the [protective] boot,’’ Davis said.

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina offensive coordinator John Shoops answered questions from three news organizations on Tuesday about the loss of quarterback T.J. Yates, and how back-ups Mike Paulus and Camerson Sexton will respond. The following is Part Two of the interview; Part One can be found here.