The North Carolina Tar Heels tipped off their season in style, cruising past Central Arkansas and then stunning No. 19 Kansas in a statement win. It felt like things were finally falling into place for coach Hubert Davis. But if there’s one thing Tar Heel fans have learned over the years, it’s that smooth rides don’t last long in Chapel Hill. And just when everything appeared to be clicking, disaster struck. Team captain Seth Trimble, the heart and soul of this roster, went down with an injury.

The University of North Carolina announced that senior guard Seth Trimble suffered a broken bone in his left forearm during a team workout on Sunday afternoon. The school also stated that the exact recovery timeline will be determined after his surgery next week.

“So sad for Seth,” coach Davis said via ESPN. “He’s such a great kid and teammate, and has worked so hard for his senior year. He loves being a Tar Heel, and we love him. The good news is he will be back at some point this year, and I know he will continue to be a great leader for us until he can get back in the lineup.”

This means the Tar Heels will now be without their captain, and arguably their best defender, for the foreseeable future. The timing couldn’t be worse. Trimble was coming off one of the best performances of his career, locking down potential lottery pick Darryn Peterson while putting up 17 points, eight rebounds, and three assists in UNC’s statement win over Kansas.

Ahead of the Tar Heels’ third game of the season against the Radford Highlanders, Seth Trimble was all smiles, laughing, chatting, and keeping the team’s spirits high during their shootaround and clicking pictures with the fans.

It was great to see Trimble staying so positive, but fans probably want to know when their captain will return from injury and what exactly happened. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

How did Seth Trimble get injured?

According to the official update released by the University, the senior guard sustained the injury during practice. However, what it didn’t reveal was how it happened.

According to journalist Pat Welter on X, “Confirmed @TheFieldOf68 report that a work out machine fell on Seth Trimble resulting in broken forearm.” Absolutely terrifying!

When will Seth Trimble return from his injury?

It was initially believed that Trimble would return by January, but there’s now an updated timeline. According to the same report from Pat Welter on X, the Tar Heels guard “had successful surgery Monday. He attended class today and will be at game tonight. Expected back mid to late December.”

Until Trimble returns, coach Hubert Davis will have to dig deep to replace the energy and defensive presence his captain brought to the floor. Trimble, who has averaged 14.5 points, five rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game this season, will undoubtedly be a huge miss for the Tar Heels.

Fortunately, coach Davis has options this season. One of them is recently cleared Montenegrin guard Luka Bogavac, who was only approved to play last week. Despite joining late, Bogavac has already impressed off the bench in the team’s first two games, putting up 15 points, six rebounds, and six assists, and now looks set for a bigger role. West Virginia transfer Jonathan Powell is also expected to see more minutes as the Tar Heels adjust to life without their leader.