No. 8 Gators to be without leading receiver Brown vs. Mizzou

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  Mark SchlabachOct 3, 2026, 02:42 PM ET

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  • Senior college football writer
  • Author of seven books on college football
  • Graduate of the University of Georgia

Florida will be without leading receiver Vernell Brown III when it plays at No. 25 Missouri on Saturday.

Brown, a sophomore from Gainesville, Florida, had been downgraded to doubtful on Friday's SEC availability report because of a knee strain, so his absence wasn't a surprise for the No. 8 Gators.

Receiver Bailey Stockton, meanwhile, is expected to play against the No. 25 Tigers (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC).

Brown was injured on an 11-yard run in last week's 52-28 rout of then-No. 4 Ole Miss. He has been one of quarterback Aaron Philo's favorite targets with 17 catches for 271 yards with two touchdowns. He also has two punt returns for scores.

Stockton, who has 13 catches for 106 yards and a TD this season, has been questionable to play because of a back injury after he took a hard hit from Rebels safety Joenel Augeuro, who was ejected from the game for targeting on the play.

"Bailey Stockton will be limited probably a good bit of the week, just because of, he like, basically a car crash on the field with two guys," Gators coach Jon Sumrall said earlier this week. "Came back and fought through it. You know, back's a little bit sore, but it's nothing structurally wrong, and so, working through that."

The Tigers will be without starting edge rushers Langden Kitchen and Darris Smith, who are both sidelined with lower-body injuries. Smith has three tackles for loss; Kitchen has three tackles for loss and eight quarterback hurries.