Georgia football is set to face a tough challenge against Alabama this Saturday, and they will be doing so without one of their key offensive weapons. Sophomore wide receiver London Humphreys, a transfer from Vanderbilt, will be sidelined due to mononucleosis. This news comes at a critical time for the Bulldogs as they prepare for their crucial SEC matchup that will be sure to have huge implications on their season.

According to an article from Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald, Georgia has not officially updated Humphreys' illness, but his absence is expected. Weiszer revealed the information was shared with him anonymously, stating that the school had not yet confirmed his status publicly.

Georgia football coach Kirby Smart, addressing the media during the SEC teleconference, said, “Yeah, we’ll see when the reports come out,” referencing the league's upcoming availability report. He added, “We still don't have a lot of verification on some things. That's what we do the injury reports for.”

Georgia prepares for Alabama showdown

Georgia football wide receiver London Humphreys (16) celebrates with teammates after a touchdown against the Clemson Tigers during the fourth quarter of the 2024 Aflac Kickoff Game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Ken Ruinard-Imagn Images

Humphreys’ absence leaves quarterback Carson Beck with one less target in what is already a thinner-than-usual receiving corps. Though Humphreys only has two catches for 63 yards this season, one of them was a notable 40-yard touchdown against Clemson in the season opener, which contributed to Georgia's dominant 34-3 win.

Related Georgia Football NewsArticle continues below
USC Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley during the fourth quarter against the UCLA Bruins at Rose Bowl.
USC learns Big Ten rival is hosting decommitted 5-star first
Colorado Buffalos head coach Deion Sanders in the second half during the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium and Cody Campbell Field.
Deion Sanders gets commitment from 2026 pass catcher over Notre Dame, LSU
Ohio State Buckeye head coach Ryan Day watches his team warm up before the start of the spring game at Ohio Stadium on April 12, 2025.
5-star DB shuts the door on potential suitors after Ohio State commitment

Humphreys has played a total of 62 snaps this season, but hasn’t been targeted since Week 1, according to Pro Football Focus. Humphreys started in Georgia’s recent game against Kentucky, but he didn’t record a catch. Last season at Vanderbilt, Humphreys showed promise with 22 catches for 439 yards and four touchdowns, making his potential impact on the field evident.

Georgia will need to adjust their offensive strategy without him, especially considering they struggled to find success through the air in their last game against Kentucky, passing for just 160 yards and no touchdowns in their 13-12 win. Smart remains confident in Beck’s abilities, even though he acknowledged that the quarterback could improve.

“I'm sure he would say he'd like to have some throws back,” Smart said. “There are some throws he'd like to have back. I've seen a lot of Carson to know that he's in a good head space. He's a really good quarterback.”

The timeline for Humphreys' return is unclear, and his absence leaves Georgia needing to adjust quickly against an always tough Alabama defense.